Thakur, founder of the mountaineering expedition company Himalayan Holidays Trekking, said the missing individuals were all Nepalese climbing guides and support staff responsible for setting up camps, clearing and mapping routes, and fixing ropes before foreign climbing teams arrived. At the time of the incident, no foreign climbers had yet arrived.
Thakur said that due to severe weather and heavy snowfall on the mountain, helicopters were initially unable to reach the site for rescue operations, which resumed on Monday. (yc)