Everest Rescue Nears Completion After Sudden Tibetan-Side Blizzard

Overview

• State broadcaster CCTV reported most trekkers have reached Qudang or nearby areas under escort, with a final group of about 10 still safe and awaiting arrival.
• Earlier updates said roughly 350 people were guided down and contact was re‑established with about 200 more on the Kangshung side, as some 300 local guides supported the effort.
• No deaths have been confirmed in the Everest camps, though tents collapsed and several people showed signs of hypothermia according to eyewitness accounts.
• Authorities suspended ticket sales and access to the Everest scenic area, while villagers and organized teams cleared deep snow blocking trails in the Karma Valley.
• Separately, severe rains triggered deadly floods and landslides in the region, with at least 50 fatalities reported in Nepal and around 28 in India’s Darjeeling area, according to officials.