An Indian-origin German climber and a Nepali mountain guide have died after an avalanche buried their tent at Camp III on Mount Manaslu, as heavy snowfall and strong winds continue to hamper mountaineering activities during Nepal’s autumn climbing season.
The victims have been identified as Dhruba Jyoti Guha, an Indian-origin German climber, and Fursemba Sherpa, a Nepali guide from Makalu. They two were staying at Camp III when an avalanche swept through the area overnight, burying their tent beneath nearly seven feet (2.1 meters) of snow, according to reports from the mountain.
As weather conditions deteriorated, other climbers reportedly descended toward lower camps, while Guha and Sherpa chose to remain at Camp III. They subsequently lost contact with their expedition team and Base Camp.
A rescue team reached the camp the following morning and found the two men dead inside the buried tent. Rescue personnel were working to recover their bodies and transport them to Manaslu Base Camp. The latest incident brings the number of reported deaths on Manaslu during the current autumn climbing season to four.
Earlier, 50-year-old Singaporean climber Lau Wee Seng died while descending from Camp II during an acclimatization rotation. In another incident, 20-year-old Nepali climber Tashi Sherpa, 20, was found dead inside a tent at Manaslu Base Camp.
Manaslu, at 8,163 meters, is one of Nepal’s most popular 8,000-metre peaks. However, deteriorating weather, heavy snowfall and strong winds have posed significant challenges to climbers and support teams during the current season.
