A major snowstorm has walloped the eastern slopes of Mount Everest, stranding close to 1,000 trekkers in their base camps this week. The incredibly storm began to unravel on Friday night and continued to explode on Saturday. It struck primarily the isolated valley of Karma, thereby affecting the least popular of the four routes, the alternative eastern Kangshung face.
The eastern Kangshung face of Mount Everest had seen hundreds of visitors accessing the area just before the storm hit. As a result of the adverse weather conditions, ticket sales for the Mount Everest scenic area were suspended from Saturday on. This decision cut off access to the rest of the region. Local officials are urgently assessing the effects on climbers under the northern face. This pristine area is normally bombarded with visitors during the summer months due to its easily accessible paved road.
As the blizzard grew stronger, hundreds of trekkers were soon caught in its grip, with thousands more suffering greatly due to difficult conditions. From the start on Sunday, rescues were swinging into action. Rescuers and local villagers have been pumping out every effort to save those buried under the snow. Through community outreach, the teams were able to reach more than 200 trekkers. With the help of local leaders, they resettled 350 people to safety in the township of Qudang.
Authorities said the remaining trekkers will be walked out of the area in increments. Rescue operations at the local government level are orchestrating a massive and methodical operation. The Karma valley’s floor averages 4,200 metres (13,779 feet) above sea level, and yet it’s home to several villages. Intense, seasonal, lake-effect snow poses significant hurdles, including axing access routes.
October marks a peak season for climbing Mount Everest, as conditions typically improve with the conclusion of the Indian monsoon. The latest snowstorm has triggered concerns about climbers’ and trekkers’ safety. Many of the climbers had carefully planned their expeditions to align with what they believed to be an ideal weather window.
With ongoing search and rescue efforts, response to this disaster is dynamic, with local and state authorities closely evaluating the evolving conditions. Our priority remains making sure that the safe extraction of all those caught up in this unexpected and dangerous weather pattern gets the maximum attention.