Nepal: Avalanche on Yalung Ri peak claims 7 lives, 5 foreigners among dead

A calm morning in the Himalayas suddenly turned into horror when an avalanche swept across the slopes of Yalung Ri in Nepal’s Dolakha district killing at least seven climbers. What began as a day of adventure and preparation for a big climb ended with shock and unanswered questions on a snowy mountainside.

The climbers included five foreigners and two Nepali guides. They were moving towards the base camp around 9:00 am local time (8:45 am IST) on Monday when a massive wave of snow came crashing down without warning. Those on the trail had started their journey just over an hour earlier. But within moments, the course of nature changed everything.

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Rescue teams rushed to the scene and have so far recovered two bodies. The remaining five climbers are still missing under the snow as search efforts continue in difficult conditions. Eight other climbers from the same group survived and have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. Doctors say they are recovering but shaken by the disaster.

Among those who lost their lives are climbers from Italy, Canada, Germany and France along with two Nepali Sherpas who were guiding the team. Their names have not yet been formally released but officials say families are being contacted.

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One survivor told a Nepali newspaper that the group kept calling for help for a long time. “Had the rescue arrived on time, more lives could have been saved,” the climber said describing the terrifying wait on the freezing mountain.

At least seven dead including 5 foreign climbers in Nepal avalanche

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The team had not planned to summit Yalung Ri, a 5,630-metre peak. Instead they were climbing it as part of their training and acclimatisation before heading towards Dolma Khang, a taller mountain nearby. Mountaineers usually climb smaller peaks first to prepare their bodies for higher altitudes.

Autumn is typically the best time to climb in Nepal with clearer skies and stable weather. Thousands of adventurers visit the Himalayas at this time each year chasing breathtaking views and personal triumphs. But the mountains always carry risks.

According to the Himalayan Database, more than 1,000 climbers have died in the region since 1950. Almost one-third of those deaths were caused by avalanches.

For now, helicopters and ground teams are still scanning the slopes of Yalung Ri, hoping to find the missing climbers.