Avalanche on Mount Annapurna Leaves Two Sherpas Missing, Rescue Efforts Continue
An avalanche hit Mount Annapurna on April 7, 2025, sweeping away two Sherpa climbers, Rima Rinje Sherpa and Ngima Tashi Sherpa.
The accident happened in the morning when they were working between Camp 2 and Camp 3, the most dangerous part of the mountain.
They were carrying oxygen cylinders for summit climbers when the avalanche struck at 5,600 meters around noon.
Both missing Sherpas were from the Khumbu Valley and worked for Seven Summit Treks, a company based in Kathmandu.
The company reported the team’s successful summit in the morning but did not mention the accident until later in the evening. Expedition leader Chhang Dawa Sherpa shared some details and a video of the avalanche, which was recorded by Brazilian climber Roman Romancini. Luckily, Romancini was further down the mountain and survived.
Another Sherpa, Pemba Thenduk, was also caught in the avalanche but managed to hold on. He immediately started searching for his missing teammates. Four other Sherpas also joined the search but could not find them.
A helicopter was sent to search for Ngima and Rima until nightfall but was unsuccessful. Chhang Dawa said he would send another helicopter with a search team the next day. He admitted the chances of finding them alive were very low but added, “I am not losing hope.”
Meanwhile, this is the second avalanche incident near Annapurna within a few days. On April 5, the body of a missing Chinese trekker was found after an avalanche near Annapurna Base Camp. The 28-year-old trekker, Yuan, had gone missing on March 24 while returning from the base camp. His body was found near Deurali, about 20 meters north of the Modi River. The search was carried out by local teams, Nepal Police, and later by the Armed Police Force.
Back on Annapurna, rescue efforts for the missing Sherpas are still going on. Jenjen Lama, Expedition Sardar of Seven Summit Treks, said the rescue team started searching within an hour after the avalanche. However, the search has been difficult. There were 3 to 4 other climbers in the area at the time. They were affected but survived, while Ngima and Rima, who were in the middle of the avalanche path, were swept away.
Another big avalanche occurred last night in the same region. It destroyed the fixed ropes and ladders used for climbing and rescue. This has made the search even harder. New ropes and ladders are now being sent to the mountain so the rescue team can continue their efforts.
