A massive search and rescue mission is underway in Tibet following a severe snowstorm that left approximately 1,000 individuals stranded on Mount Everest. Local villagers and rescue teams have been mobilized to clear snow and reopen access to areas above 4,900 meters. The Tibetan side’s eastern slopes of the mountain are reported to have nearly 1,000 people stuck due to the extreme weather conditions.
Reports indicate that some tourists have already been rescued, but the situation remains critical. The heavy snowfall, which began on Friday evening and intensified on the popular climbing and hiking eastern slopes, prompted a distress call to Tibet’s Blue Sky Rescue team. Concerns are raised about potential cases of hypothermia among hikers affected by the snowstorm.
The continuous snowfall since Friday evening forced the Tingri County Tourism Company to halt ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area. According to Chinese state media, over 350 people have been rescued and reached the town of Qudang, with ongoing efforts to reach the remaining individuals stranded on Everest.
This recent incident echoes a similar event in 2010 when around 2,000 tourists were trapped in adverse weather conditions on Mount Everest for several days. Meanwhile, in Nepal, heavy rain triggered landslides and flash floods, resulting in at least 47 fatalities in the past two days. Additionally, 35 individuals lost their lives in landslides in the Ilam district near the Indian border.
Authorities in both regions are ramping up rescue operations to assist affected local communities and tourists amidst the challenging weather conditions. Moreover, parts of northern and southern Bengal are experiencing flooding due to sudden heavy rains, prompting urgent responses to mitigate the impact of the adverse weather.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern over the situation and pledged immediate assistance to affected families. She highlighted the significant rainfall in North Bengal, leading to the collapse of iron bridges, road damage, and flooding, exacerbated by the overflow of river waters from Bhutan and Sikkim.
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