Story perspectives

Himlung Himal avalanche death toll rises to 15

By Drooid · Oct 2, 2026, 6:15 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Rescuers Recover Bodies

Rescuers recovered eight more bodies, raising the Himlung Himal avalanche death count to 15.
Tul Singh Gurung, Nepal National Mountain Guide Association president, said one worker is still missing.
Mingma G Sherpa said finding the other 12 missing workers alive is unlikely.
Searches halted on September 29 because deep snow and weather made conditions very challenging.
Heavy rain since Thursday triggered floods and landslides that killed at least 21 people.

Summary

Scientists Warn ElNiño

Scientists warn the 2026 record El Niño is driving severe Himalayan weather.
The Himlung avalanche followed a July Broad Peak tragedy and an August landslide that killed 1,400.
Himalayan Holidays Nepal and Imagine Nepal Treks lost contact with staff after the avalanche.
Authorities closed Himlung Himal and evacuated over 1,000 trekkers by helicopter.
Floods in Himachal Pradesh killed 60+ people; Typhoon Dujuan caused Japanese landslides, killing four.

History

Historical Context

The 25 April 2015 magnitude-7.8 Gorkha earthquake shattered Nepal, killing 8,962 people and injuring 21,952, and triggered an Everest avalanche that claimed 22 lives. Relief efforts, such as the Nepalese army’s Operation Sangkat Mochan, reached millions of survivors. Today’s Himlung Himal avalanche revives those memories, prompting trekking firms and the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association to launch a coordinated search.

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Rescuers Recover Bodies

Rescuers recovered eight more bodies, raising the Himlung Himal avalanche death count to 15.
Tul Singh Gurung, Nepal National Mountain Guide Association president, said one worker is still missing.
Mingma G Sherpa said finding the other 12 missing workers alive is unlikely.
Searches halted on September 29 because deep snow and weather made conditions very challenging.
Heavy rain since Thursday triggered floods and landslides that killed at least 21 people.

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