Near the eastern slope of Mount Everest in Tibet, rescuers evacuated hundreds of tourists who were trapped by a heavy blizzard. A storm lashed the Himalayan region late last week, bringing record snowfall and rain. reports Reuters.
As of October 6, about 350 travelers have reached the town of Qiudan, and more than 200 people are still in contact with rescuers. In general, in the Karma Valley, which leads to the eastern (Kangshung) slope of Everest, about a thousand people were blocked by snow.
Hundreds of local residents and rescuers are involved in the work, clearing snow and escorting groups of tourists to safe places. The rest of the travelers should reach Tsyudan in stages under the control of rescuers.
Tourists who have already returned say that the temperature dropped below zero, the snow did not stop for more than a day, and the tents had to be cleaned every 10 minutes to prevent them from collapsing. Some of the group suffered from hypothermia, but serious injuries were avoided.
The Karma Valley is one of the least explored parts of the Himalayas. Unlike the northern slope of Everest, where an arid climate prevails, dense forests and alpine meadows have been preserved here. Due to bad weather, the Tibetan authorities temporarily suspended the sale of tickets and closed access to the tourist area of Everest.
Meanwhile in the southern Himalayas, in Nepal, downpours triggered landslides and floods that killed at least 47 people. In the eastern district of Ilam, which borders India, 35 people died, nine more are considered missing.
