Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Hope fades for missing S Korea, Nepali trekkers

Date:

Share post:

Pokhara: Rescuers in the search for four South Korean trekkers and three Nepalis said Tuesday there was little hope of finding them alive after they were swept away and buried by an avalanche in the Himalayas.
The group was descending near Annapurna base camp around 3,230 metres (10,600 feet) above sea level when the avalanche struck on Friday after heavy snowfall. “It has been so many days, so it is hard to be hopeful for survival. With our equipment we found signals on the area when the avalanche landed, confirming that there are bodies buried inside,” rescue worker Ang Tashi Sherpa told AFP.
Experts say there is a very low chance of survival for those buried in an avalanche for more than two hours. Rescuers have marked the position where signals from electronic detection devices have been recorded.
Local official Him Bahadur Gurung said nearly 15 feet (4.5 metres) of fresh snow had accumulated in the area.
On Tuesday morning, an 11-member specialised team from the Nepal Army departed by chopper for the site along with South Korean personnel.
“Our focus is to find them. The teams will try to expedite melting of the snow or dig through,” said Dan Bahadur Karki, police chief of Kaski district.
“It is still a risky operation but all possible efforts are being made.” Officials estimate that parts of the snow mass could thaw in two weeks if it is sunny but it would take up to a month for most of it to melt.
Six of the missing were part of the same expedition, while one Nepali porter was escorting a different group. The four foreigners — two men and two women — were part of an 11-member team of South Korean nationals. Others have safely descended.
Education officials in Seoul said they were part of a team of volunteer teachers working with children in Nepal. Relatives of the missing Koreans who arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday have also visited the avalanche area. (AFP)

Related articles

Most draconian Waqf section 40 to be done away with: Kiren Rijiju

New Delhi, April 2: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill,...

Preserve high-yielding native crop varieties: TERI DG

Guwahati, April 2: “High-yielding native crop varieties suitable for this region should be preserved and cultivated for the...

‘Today’s voting on bill will decide which party is secular’, Kapil Sibal slams govt on Waqf

New Delhi, April 2:  Former Law Minister Kapil Sibal went all guns blazing against the Centre over the...

Two women Maoists killed in encounter near tiger reserve in MP

Bhopal, April 2: Two Maoists have been neutralised in a major encounter near the Kanha Tiger Reserve in...