Hundreds of hikers were rescued from a blizzard near Mount Everest’s eastern face in Tibet as severe snowfall and rain hit the Himalayas, according to Chinese state media. Around 350 trekkers made it to a small township, with contact established with the remaining 200-plus individuals. The remote valley of Karma, leading to Everest’s eastern Kangshung face, saw a significant influx of visitors during China’s eight-day National Day holiday.
The Karma Valley, known for its lush vegetation and untouched alpine forests nourished by the Kangshung glacier’s meltwaters, is a pristine area of the Everest region. The trekkers were welcomed with hot soup in a communal hall before being transported away from the region. Unfortunately, a South Korean trekker lost his life in Nepal after climbing the 6,476-meter Mera Peak.
The unpredictable weather conditions caught many trekkers off guard, with one member describing the wet and cold conditions as a serious risk for hypothermia. The trekkers faced heavy snowfall, thunder, and lightning, causing a challenging descent from the mountains. Fortunately, local villagers and rescue teams assisted in clearing snow to rescue nearly 1,000 trapped individuals.
In Nepal and India, heavy snowfall led to tragic landslides and flash floods, resulting in road blockages, bridge collapses, and casualties. The situation remains precarious in the region, with ongoing rescue efforts and the suspension of entry to the Everest Scenic Area.
