Both the Nepali and Tibetan sides of the Mount Everest region were closed to tourism on Oct 29 after heavy snow blanketed the Himalayas, according to a Reuters report. The snowfall, driven by cyclone winds from the Bay of Bengal, created hazardous conditions and led to a helicopter crash as rescuers attempted to reach stranded trekkers.

The storm, which began on Oct 27, marks the second severe snowfall to hit the region this month.

Tibetan Side Closed

On the Tibetan side, authorities in Dingri County suspended ticket sales on Oct 28 after roads turned icy and visibility plummeted. Officials said vehicular movement was impossible as snow and ice made conditions treacherous. Earlier this month, a blizzard had stranded hundreds of trekkers near Everest’s eastern face before a large-scale rescue effort brought them to safety.

Helicopter Crash Near Everest Base Camp

On the Nepali side, a private helicopter flying to Lobuche, near Everest Base Camp, crashed during a rescue attempt, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul. Fortunately, the pilot survived.

Army and police teams have since guided hundreds of trekkers in Manang District to safety. Nepal Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said approximately 1,500 hikers, including 200 foreign nationals, had lost their way when trails disappeared under deep snow.

Early Snowfall Disrupts Himalayan Life

The Kathmandu Post reported that early snowfall also disrupted daily life across Himalayan Nepal. Residents in Humla, Mugu, and Dolpa districts have been trapped indoors, delaying their annual migration to lower altitudes.

“Even walking between houses is difficult. Everyone is staying indoors, and livestock are confined to sheds,” said Paljor Tamang, ward chair of Namkha-6, Humla.

According to Tsering Kyapne Lama, chair of Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality, such early snow has not been seen since 2011.

Trekkers Rescued in Mustang

Separately, 15 trekkers, including three British nationals, were rescued from the snow-affected Hidden Valley area in Mustang after being trapped along the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trail.

The Nepali Army said the tourists had been stranded since Oct 28 at an altitude of about 4,900 metres. A joint rescue team — including personnel from the High Mountain Training School, Indrabox Battalion, Armed Police Force, and local guides — successfully brought the trekkers down to Yak Kharka and escorted them toward Jomsom.Nepal Army Official Site