Himlung Himal Avalanche: Rescue Team Mobilised as Helicopter Heads to Base Camp

A specialised mountain rescue team has been mobilised after an avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in Manang on Sunday morning, with a helicopter carrying four rescuers already heading towards the mountain.

The rescue effort follows the earlier report that 10 people, including expedition support staff and climbers, remain unaccounted for after the avalanche hit the 7,126-metre Himlung Himal in the Nar Phu area.

The latest development marks the first major mobilisation of specialist mountain guides to reach the affected base camp.

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Four rescuers fly towards Himlung

According to the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA), a helicopter carrying four people, including renowned mountaineer Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, has departed for the Himlung area.

The team is being deployed to assess the avalanche site, search for those who remain missing and gather information about the condition of the base camp.

Four additional mountain guides are on standby in Kathmandu. Their deployment has been delayed by poor weather and flight conditions.

The eight-member team prepared by the NNMGA includes IFMGA and NNMGA-certified guides with high-altitude rescue experience.

Alongside Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, the team includes Pasang Kaji Sherpa, Pasang Rinze Sherpa, Ashish Gurung, Tersing Pemba Sherpa, Bikram Karki, Dandu Sherpa and NNMGA General Secretary Pimba Tenzing Lama.

Rescue complicated by weather

The biggest immediate challenge remains the weather.

Himlung Himal has experienced heavy snowfall and deteriorating conditions in recent days, forcing climbing and rope-fixing teams to move away from exposed sections of the mountain.

Poor visibility and unsafe flying conditions have also complicated helicopter access to the remote base camp. The mountain's location and high altitude make a rapid ground response difficult.

Earlier reports said authorities and expedition operators were working to establish the whereabouts of the 10 people reported missing. The Department of Tourism has been monitoring the situation and collecting information from the expedition companies involved.

Who is missing?

The Expedition Operators Association Nepal previously confirmed that 10 people were unaccounted for following the avalanche.

Eight of those reported missing are associated with Himalayan Holidays Nepal, while two are from Imagine Nepal Pvt Ltd. Expedition organiser Mingma Gyalje Sherpa has separately confirmed that two members of his kitchen staff are among those missing.

The missing people are understood to include Nepali expedition support workers and climbers who were at or near the base camp when the avalanche struck.

No deaths have been officially confirmed in the latest information available.

Avalanche struck after days of snowfall

The avalanche occurred after several days of heavy snowfall in the Himlung region.

Expedition and rope-fixing teams had already moved away from exposed mountain slopes following warnings about worsening weather. Some personnel, however, remained at the base camp.

The teams had been preparing for the autumn climbing season, when Himlung Himal becomes an important destination for mountaineers seeking experience on peaks above 6,000 metres.

Himlung Himal stands at 7,126 metres in Manang's remote Nar Phu region, close to the Nepal-Tibet border.

Weather warning preceded the incident

The avalanche came as Nepal was experiencing a broader spell of severe weather.

The Department of Tourism had issued a safety advisory covering September 25–27, warning trekkers, mountaineers and expedition support staff about heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds and snowfall at higher elevations.

The deteriorating weather has affected several Himalayan expedition areas, with climbers on other major peaks also retreating or suspending operations.

The Himlung rescue operation is therefore being carried out under unusually difficult conditions.

Search operation now underway

The specialist team heading towards Himlung will first assess the avalanche zone and determine whether the missing people can be located safely.

The rescuers are also expected to examine the condition of tents, equipment and access routes at the base camp before deciding how the search should proceed.

The four guides still waiting in Kathmandu are expected to join the operation if weather and flight conditions allow.

For now, the focus remains on reaching the affected base camp, establishing the condition of those still unaccounted for and beginning a safe search of the avalanche debris.

This is a developing story. Further updates are expected as the rescue team reaches Himlung and authorities receive information from the mountain.