Gorkha/Dolakha, November 3
Consecutive days of snowfall and rainfall in Nepal’s high mountain regions have triggered multiple avalanches and landslides, leaving several foreign and Nepali trekkers missing, injured, or dead in the Manaslu and Rolwaling regions.
In Manaslu, a Czech national identified as Katerina Raskova, 54, has gone missing after being buried in a landslide at Nyakfedi in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3, Gorkha. The incident occurred last Friday while she was returning from Samagaun. Search and rescue operations led by Nepal Police Inspector Anil Shrestha are ongoing with the support of the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Army.
Meanwhile, two Italian climbers — Stefano Faronato (67) and Alessandro Gaputo (37) — have been out of contact since October 28 while attempting to climb Pangbari Himal (6,887 meters). District Police Office Gorkha reported that although one Italian and three Nepali climbers in the same group were rescued, the two remain missing. A mountain rescue team has been airlifted to Samdo by Kailash Air to continue the search on foot.
In another incident in the region, Nepali trekker Minuindra Lamsal, 44, from Tokha-6, Kathmandu, sustained serious injuries after being hit by a falling rock in Bur, Chumnubri-5, last Wednesday. Due to adverse weather, repeated helicopter rescue attempts failed for three days until Saturday, when he was finally airlifted by Simrik Air to Dharke and then transported to Grande Hospital in Kathmandu by ambulance.
According to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), between October 18 and November 1, a total of 2,534 trekkers entered the Manaslu region. Police reports indicate that around 2,000 stranded tourists have already been rescued by helicopter since the weather cleared, with rescue operations continuing.
Heavy rainfall has also caused landslides damaging at least four houses in Pangseng, Chumnubri-3, belonging to residents Juk Bahadur Gurung, Sarkini Gurung, Dhanduk Gurung, and Kamala Gurung. The landslides swept away livestock and household belongings. A poultry farm owned by Devendra Gurung was also destroyed, killing around 60 chickens.
In Dolakha, a separate avalanche on Yalung Ri Himal in the Rolwaling Valley has killed three people, injured four, and left eight others missing, according to DSP Gyan Kumar Mahato.
A 15-member team, including Nepali guides, had set out from Na village on Monday morning to climb the 5,630-meter Yalung Ri peak. Rescue operations are ongoing, though helicopters have faced difficulty landing due to poor weather and flight restrictions in the Rolwaling area. Police have not yet reached the incident site because of the region’s difficult terrain.
Authorities said efforts are continuing to locate the missing trekkers in both regions as weather conditions gradually improve.
