In a shocking incident, at least seven climbers, including five foreigners and two Nepali guides, have died after being caught in an avalanche on a Himalayan peak in north-eastern Nepal, officials said on Monday. The avalanche struck near the base camp of Yalung Ri mountain in Dolakha district around 9:00 am local time (03:15 GMT), BBC reported. 

According to the expedition agency Seven Summit Treks, rescuers have recovered two bodies so far, while search operations are ongoing for the remaining five climbers believed to be buried under 10 to 15 feet of snow. Eight injured climbers were rescued and taken to Kathmandu for medical treatment.

The victims include two Italians, a Canadian, a German, a French national, and two Nepalis who were working as guides. All were part of a larger group that had set out to climb earlier in the day before the avalanche hit.

Local police chief Gyan Kumar Mahato told BBC Nepali that a rescue helicopter reached the Na Gaun area, about a five-hour walk from the Yalung Ri base camp. However, he said poor weather and difficult terrain made the rescue operation challenging.

According to The Kathmandu Post, one of the survivors said that they had repeatedly called for help after the avalanche, but rescue teams took a long time to arrive. “Had the rescue arrived on time, more lives could have been saved,” the climber said. The group was reportedly preparing to climb the nearby Dolma Khang peak, which stands at 6,332 metres, and had included Yalung Ri (5,630 metres) in their acclimatisation plan.

In a separate incident, the bodies of two Italian climbers missing on Panbari mountain in western Nepal were also recovered on Tuesday. They were part of a three-member team that lost contact with base camp following heavy snowfall on 28 October.