10 missing after avalanche hits Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal; bad weather delays search ops

The area had experienced several days of heavy snowfall before the avalanche.

Published on: Sep 27, 2026, 15:08:20 IST

Edited by Shivya Kanojia

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At least 10 local climbers and guides have gone missing after an avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Peak in central Nepal early Sunday, an expedition organiser said.

The avalanche comes as Nepal is dealing with severe weather in several parts of the country. (Pexels)

The 7,126-metre (23,345-foot) Himlung Peak is located near Nepal's border with Tibet. The area had experienced several days of heavy snowfall before the avalanche.

Search operation delayed by bad weather

Two helicopters and a search and rescue team are on standby but have been unable to begin operations because of adverse weather conditions, Bibhuti Chand Thakur of Himalaya Holidays Trekking told news agency AFP.

Also read | At least 14 dead in 72 hours as heavy rain triggers floods, landslides in Nepal

"Eight members of our expedition team and two more from another company have been reported missing," Thakur said, adding that all those missing are Nepali.

Heavy snowfall disrupts mountain expeditions

The avalanche comes as Nepal is dealing with severe weather in several parts of the country. Heavy rainfall since Thursday has washed away roads and triggered landslides.

Also read | Nepal activates emergency response following warning of weekend downpour, issues travel advisory

Snowfall has also affected other popular climbing destinations. On Manaslu, heavy snow this week forced climbers to call off expeditions, while treks to the Dhaulagiri mountain range were also paused.

Nepal's autumn climbing season

Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, with foreign climbers contributing significantly to the country's largely rural economy.

The country has issued more than 500 permits for the autumn climbing season, with Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest mountain, accounting for most of them.

The latest incident comes as Nepal is already reeling from a devastating, tsunami-like flood on August 26 that killed more than 1,400 people and left over 6,000 missing.

(With inputs from AFP)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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