World's Highest Peak Rescue In Progress as Blizzard Traps Nearly 1,000 Individuals
Rescue operations are ongoing on the world's tallest mountain following a intense blizzard that left nearly 1,000 people trapped at base camps on the east face of the peak.
Several Hundred Rescued Successfully Amid Unusual Precipitation
Numerous hikers cut off by the snowstorm near the eastern face of the peak were safely guided by emergency responders on Sunday, as exceptional precipitation pummelled the Himalayas.
As of Sunday, three hundred and fifty individuals had reached the small township of the rescue base, while contact had been made with the other two hundred hikers.
Peak Season Contributed to High Visitor Numbers
Tourists in the remote valley of the Karma valley, which provides access to the eastern Kangshung face of Mount Everest, numbered in the hundreds this week, benefiting from an extended holiday break in the region.
Heavy snow in the valley, which sits at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,779 feet), started late Friday and continued all day Saturday.
Continued Operations to Rescue Others to Safety
The other hikers are scheduled to reach Qudang in stages under the guidance and assistance of rescuers dispatched by the local government.
Hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams have been deployed to help remove snow obstructing routes to the area.
Uncertainty Over Local Guides and Other Areas
Reports indicated that close to a thousand individuals had been trapped. Details were unclear whether support staff and team members with the trekking parties had been accounted for.
Remains unknown if trekkers near the north face of Everest—also in the region—had been affected or not.
Tourist Rush and Access Suspended
The northern slope of Mount Everest, due to its easy access by paved road, often attracts large numbers of tourists. This month is a peak season, when skies clear with the end of the Indian monsoon.
Ticket sales and access to the entire Everest scenic area were halted from Saturday, according to notices posted on local platforms.
Nearby Area Affected by Heavy Rains
To the southern side of the region, heavy rains caused mudslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, destroyed bridges, and claimed over forty-seven lives since Friday.
Thirty-five people lost their lives in multiple mudslides in the eastern Ilam district near the Indian border. Nine individuals were reported missing after being swept away by rising waters, and three more were fatally struck in electrical storms elsewhere in the country.
