scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Support Our Journalism
HomeWorldAll Everest hikers stranded on Tibetan valley rescued

All Everest hikers stranded on Tibetan valley rescued

Local guides & shepherds joined authorities to help rescue all stranded hikers from the isolated Karma valley after a blizzard, making it one of the largest search-and-rescue operations in the area.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

Beijing: Rescuers guided all of the remaining trekkers near the east face of Everest in Tibet to safety on Tuesday, including hundreds of local guides and yak herders, authorities said, ending one of the largest search-and-rescue operations in the region.

Hundreds of hikers were stranded in deep snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley after an unusually powerful blizzard dumped heavy snowfall in the region.

Snow fell throughout Saturday in the valley, which lies at an average altitude of 4,200 m (13,800 ft). On Sunday, rescuers had guided about 350 hikers to safety.

According to an earlier Reuters report, citing a source, the remaining 200 or so hikers were expected to reach safety by Tuesday.

A total of 580 trekkers along with more than 300 guides, yak herders and other support staff were evacuated, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday evening.

The snowstorm also thwarted the plans of climbers guided by U.S.-based Madison Mountaineering to summit Cho Oyu, an 8,188-m (26,864-ft) peak on China’s border with Nepal.

Karma valley was first explored by Western travellers a century ago. In recent years, with the development of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism draw, the area has attracted an increasing number of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists visited the Everest region last year, a new record.

The Everest region remains temporarily closed to the public, Xinhua reported, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also affected hundreds of hikers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai and Gansu. At least one died, due to a combination of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Jamie Freed)

Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


Also Read: Heavy rain triggers floods, landslides in Nepal, 52 killed


 

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular