Indian among 21 trekkers killed in Nepal snow storm

KATHMANDU: An Indian was among 21 trekkers killed while 85 others remained missing after being hit by one of the worst snow storms in western Nepal today.

Sixteen people - Nine Nepalese, three Polish, three Israelis and one Vietnamese -- were killed and as many as 19 others were injured in Mustang district, officials said.

Similarly, five foreigners have been killed in snowfall in Manang district. Among the deceased are four Canadians and one Indian national.

The incident occurred in Thorang Pass area which lies between border of Manang and Mustang districts at an altitude of 5,416 metres.

The sudden heavy snow fall in the area is attributed to Hudhud cyclone, that hit southern India recently. Heavy rainfalls accompanied by hailstorms lashed the central and western regions of Nepal for the past few days.

There were 4 to 5 metre snow fall in the area, according to Gopal Babu Shrestha of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN).

"This was the worst incident in the mountain region of Nepal involving foreigners in the recent past," said Shrestha.

Some 85 foreign trekkers have lost contact with the staff of the trekking company in two separate places of Manang and Mustang districts.

The Nepal Army has said that it has rescued alive 18 foreign trekkers from Mustang area.

The four dead bodies and 14 injured trekkers have been brought to Kathmandu on helicopters, the Nepal Army said in a statement.

Many people might have been killed in the incident, according to unconfirmed sources.

A trekking agency staff quoting a rescued guide said that he had seen some 24-25 bodies lying in the snow.

In a separate incident, five foreign trekkers have gone missing from Dhaulagiri area, according to officials.

Nepal Army and Nepal Police personnel including local trekkers have been mobilised to carry out rescue works, he said.

Nepal Army has also launched aerial search through a helicopter in the snow storm hit area.

However, adverse weather condition and heavy snow fall in the region has hampered rescue works.

It was very difficult to establish communication with the missing trekkers and coordinate rescue due to heavy snow falls in the area.