Nepal avalanche: Bad weather blocks recovery of 5 climbers' bodies on Yalung Ri
Synopsis
Five bodies believed to be those of climbers killed in last year's Yalung Ri avalanche have been found after melting snow exposed the remains — but bad weather has kept Nepal Police grounded for over three days, with the recovery helicopter stuck at Simi village. Forensic confirmation of identities awaits the moment skies clear.
Key Takeaways
A Nepal Police team has been unable to reach Yalung Ri base camp in Dolakha district for more than three days due to bad weather.
Five bodies, believed to be those of three foreigners and two Nepali guides, were discovered after melting snow exposed human remains.
The original avalanche killed seven people from a group of 12 mountaineers acclimatising at the 5,630-metre peak.
Two bodies were recovered during the initial rescue last year; the search for the remaining five was subsequently called off.
The recovery helicopter is stationed at Simi village ; operations will resume once weather conditions improve.
Formal identification of the five bodies will require forensic examination after recovery in Kathmandu .
A Nepal Police recovery team has been grounded for more than three days, unable to reach the base camp of Yalung Ri mountain in the Rolwaling range of Dolakha district, where five bodies believed to be those of climbers killed in a deadly avalanche last year were recently discovered. Persistent bad weather and incessant rainfall have halted the operation since Friday, 8 August.
How the Bodies Were Found
The remains came to light after melting snow exposed human remains near the 5,630-metre peak. Local residents and the expedition company whose team was caught in the original disaster alerted authorities, prompting police to mobilise a recovery team that flew to the area on Friday morning.
The helicopter carrying the team is currently stationed at Simi village, near the mountain peak, awaiting a break in the weather before attempting to reach the site.
What Officials Have Said
Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Lama of the District Police Office, Dolakha, said: 'Because of bad weather and incessant rainfall in the area, we failed to reach the location on Friday and Saturday. The helicopter has been stationed at Simi village near the mountain peak.'
Lama added that there is a 'high possibility' the five bodies are those of mountaineers who perished in the avalanche, noting that 'five people — three foreigners and two Nepalis — went missing in last year's avalanche.'
Background: The Original Avalanche
The avalanche struck the base camp of Yalung Ri while a group of 12 mountaineers were acclimatising before attempting nearby summits. Seven people were killed in total — five foreigners and two Nepali high-altitude guides. On the first day of the original rescue operation, the bodies of two climbers were recovered and flown to Kathmandu for post-mortem examination. After several unsuccessful recovery attempts, the search for the remaining five missing climbers was called off last year.
Identity Confirmation Pending Forensics
Police have confirmed that the identities of the five newly discovered bodies will only be established after they are physically recovered and subjected to forensic examination. Yalung Ri is considered a relatively accessible trekking peak and draws climbers seeking high-altitude mountaineering experience in the Rolwaling corridor — making the original disaster particularly striking for the mountaineering community.
What Happens Next
The recovery team remains on standby at Simi village, and operations are expected to resume as soon as weather conditions permit. Formal identification of the remains, including confirmation of nationalities, will follow forensic procedures once the bodies are brought to Kathmandu.
Point of View
The administrative and diplomatic machinery for eventual recovery is rarely pre-positioned. The families of the three foreign nationals still await confirmation of identity, and the forensic process will only begin after a weather window that may itself be days away. Nepal's mountaineering governance framework handles permits and peak fees efficiently; its post-disaster recovery protocols for buried climbers deserve equal institutional attention.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Nepal Police been unable to recover the bodies from Yalung Ri?
Persistent bad weather and incessant rainfall in the Dolakha district have prevented the police helicopter from reaching the Yalung Ri base camp since Friday, 8 August. The team and helicopter remain stationed at Simi village, awaiting favourable conditions.
How were the five bodies discovered?
Melting snow exposed human remains near the base camp of Yalung Ri. Local residents and the expedition company associated with last year's avalanche alerted authorities, triggering the current recovery operation.
What happened in the original Yalung Ri avalanche?
The avalanche struck the base camp of the 5,630-metre peak while 12 mountaineers were acclimatising. Seven people were killed — five foreigners and two Nepali high-altitude guides. Two bodies were recovered on the first day; the search for the remaining five was called off after several failed attempts.
Have the identities of the five bodies been confirmed?
No. Police say identities will only be confirmed after the bodies are physically recovered and subjected to forensic examination in Kathmandu. There is, according to officials, a high possibility they are the five climbers who went missing in the avalanche.
What is Yalung Ri and why do climbers go there?
Yalung Ri is a 5,630-metre trekking peak in Nepal's Rolwaling range in Dolakha district. It is regarded as a relatively accessible high-altitude mountaineering destination, popular with climbers seeking experience before attempting more technical Himalayan summits.
