Avalanche Kills 15 Nepali Workers Preparing Himalayan Mountain Camp

An avalanche in the Himlung area of Narphabhumi Rural Municipality-5, Manang, Nepal, has killed 15 people, with one person still missing, police said Friday.

The missing individual is identified as 38-year-old Pasang Nuri Sherpa of Okhaldhunga. The deceased include Chhebi Bhote and Pasang Bhote of Sankhuwasabha; Birendra Gurung and Aash Gurung of Gorkha; Ghanshyam Rai, Lak Kumar Gurung, and Suraj Rai of Khotang; Kalam Budha of Rukum East; Birkh Dhwaj Tamang and Jagat Tamang of Kavrepalanchok; Urkh Dhwaj Bohora of Sindhupalchok; Prem Tamang of Okhaldhunga; and Kriti Bahadur Tamang of Dolakha.

The bodies of Ngima Dorje Tamang and Santabir Tamang were also recovered, but their addresses and ages are unknown. The avalanche occurred around 12:45 am on September 27, burying a mountain camp at the base of the 7,126-meter Himlung Himal. Twenty-seven Nepali men, including 21 from Himalayan Holiday Company and six from Imaging Nepal Company, had left Kathmandu on September 18 to establish the base camp for foreign climbers.

Of those caught in the avalanche, 11 were rescued safely, while 16 were initially reported missing. Rescue teams recovered four more bodies on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 11, before eight more bodies were recovered, raising the total to 15. The search for Pasang Nuri Sherpa continues. This incident marks the deadliest event of the autumn climbing season, which concludes this month.