One killed 12 injured as avalanche hits Manaslu base camp

A massive avalanche has hit the base camp of Mt Manaslu in Gorkha district Monday noon killing one person and injuring 12 others, according to a staff at Imagine Nepal Expeditions Pvt Ltd. The deceased has been identified as climbing assistant Anup Rai.

Among those injured the condition of three people is said to be critical, said sources at Department of Tourism. According to the department a foreign climber has gone missing while descending after summiting the mountain. 

Three helicopters have been dispatched from Kathmandu towards the disaster site for rescue operations. It is said the rescue choppers have not been able to land at the site till Monday afternoon due to bad weather. The helicopters have landed at Samagaun of Gorkha. The avalanche occurred at the base camp of Mt Manaslu at Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1 of Gorkha district. 

The foreigners who were on mountaineering expedition and their Nepali assistants are at the base camp. The climbers have gone to the base camp of Mt Manaslu from various companies including the Seven Summit Trek. DoT’s Mountaineering Section said 404 climbing teams of 38 expedition teams have taken permit for climbing Mt Manaslu in the autumn season.