Missing French climbers five bodies found on Mt Yalung-Ri Himal in Dolakha

DOLAKHA:- Locals have reported spotting five bodies on Yalung-Ri Himal in the Rolwaling region, located in Ward No. 9 of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality, Dolakha. Ward Chairperson Ngima Geli Sherpa stated that these bodies likely belong to individuals who were buried in an avalanche while attempting to climb Yalung-Ri Himal on the 17th of Kartik last year.

Dolakha’s police chief, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Manoj Kumar Lama, stated that while reports have been received regarding the sighting of five bodies at the base camp of Yalung-Ri Himal, there has been no official confirmation yet. DSP Lama suggested that these bodies could belong to individuals caught in an avalanche while attempting to climb the mountain last year.

Last year, seven people went missing after being caught in an avalanche while attempting to climb Yalung-Ri Himal. The search team from Dream Destination reported that although the bodies of two individuals were recovered at the time, the bodies of the remaining five were not found. The search operation had to be suspended due to continuous snowfall.

Police stated that although Dream Destination dispatched a helicopter to the Yalung-Ri Himal area on Friday to retrieve and identify five bodies—as reported by locals—adverse weather conditions made it impossible to carry out the recovery and identification.

Phurba Tenji Sherpa of Dream Destination stated that although a helicopter was dispatched last year to search for five individuals caught in an avalanche during their climb, the mission could not be carried out due to adverse weather conditions. He noted that while locals reported seeing bodies at the Yalung Ri base camp, there has been no official confirmation of this.

On the 11th of Kartik last year, a total of 15 climbers—comprising both Nepalis and foreign nationals across various groups—had set out for the 5,630-meter-high Yalung Ri peak in the Rolwaling region. They were caught in an avalanche on the 17th of Kartik.

Eight individuals caught in the avalanche were rescued safely. The bodies of Padam Tamang from Ward No. 9 of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality, Dolakha, and Mere Karki from Buksa, Solukhumbu—who had been caught in the avalanche—were recovered at the time. Five foreign nationals—Manfedi Christina Andre (Passport No. 9DK92514) from France; Paolo Coco (Passport No. YB6411963) and Marcos Kirchiller (Passport No. YB3843711) from Italy; Jakob Isriver (Passport No. CHIHX6HRZ) from Germany; and Marco Di Marcello (Passport No. P823193NG) from Canada—went missing after being buried by the avalanche.

Police state that the body spotted by locals at the Yalung-Ri base camp could belong to one of the five individuals who went missing after being buried by an avalanche.