Kathmandu, October 6
Due to adverse weather conditions, hundreds of people have been stranded on the eastern side of Mount Everest in the Tibet region. Rescue operations are currently underway.
According to Chinese news agencies, heavy snowfall has blocked trekking routes, leaving climbers and their support teams stranded. Although some have already been rescued, around one thousand people remain trapped, Jimu News reported, citing Reuters.
The report states that local residents and rescue team members are actively carrying out operations at altitudes of around 4,900 meters, working to clear snow and reopen the trails.
Snowfall that began on Friday evening continued through Saturday. Following this, the Tingri County Tourism Committee in Tibet announced on its official WeChat account that ticket sales for Mount Everest sightseeing had been suspended.
On the Nepal side of Everest, an avalanche also blocked trekking routes. The Nepal Trekking Agencies’ Association (TAAN) reported that the main trekking route between Namche and Jorsalle was damaged by a landslide. TAAN has advised trekkers to exercise caution and to use an alternative mule trail located 200–300 meters above the main path.
The heavy rain, floods, and landslides in Nepal from October 4 to 5 were caused by moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal. In Ilam district alone, 37 people lost their lives in the disaster.
Unusually heavy snowfall has also been reported in the Everest region, causing difficulties for climbers and tourists.
According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, around 350 stranded people have already been rescued and brought to Qudang City, while contact has been established with more than 200 others.
Hundreds of tourists had traveled to Karma Valley during the eight-day National Day holiday. The valley serves as an access point to the eastern part of Mount Everest.Chen Geshuang, who was part of an 18-strong trekking team that made it to Qudang, told Reuters, “The weather is abnormal. I’ve never seen such conditions in October, everything happened so suddenly.”
