100 walkers are missing and at least 29 dead following a snowstorm in the center of Nepal in the Himalayan mountain range. The heavy snowfall provoked avalanches which have covered the trekking routes. Victims include local guides and visitors from Asia, Europe, Israel and Canada.
29 bodies have so far been recovered on the popular Tour of the Annapurnas treking route and rescue services are looking for at least another 100 walkers and climbers that have permits for the trail. 47 walkers have already been rescued. The heavy snowfall was caused by the cyclone Hudhud which hit the east coast of India during the weekend and brought snow to the Himalayas on Tuesday. It is the height of the trekking season.
Two Slovak climbers and their Nepalese guides are missing on Mont Dhaulagiri (8167m) following an avalanche that swept through their camp. A helicopter has overflow the zone but no trace of the climbers was found.
According to Meteo France mountain weather expert Yann Giezendanner the storm will have dumped more than 2 meters of snow at altitude. A similar storm hit the range 3 years ago but normally you see such an event every decade. "The trajectory of the storm is very predictable, it upsets me because it is the type of accident that shouldn't happen. Walkers and their tour operators have become too accustomed to good weather at this time of year".