The body of Saroj Pariyar, the Nepali guide who had gone missing in an avalanche in Annapurna Base Camp in January, has been found near Deurali, Annapurna Rural Municipality on Friday.

Kaski police Spokesperson DSP Raj Kumar KC said a search team including rescuers and the deceased’s brother, Sandeep Pariyar, found Saroj’s body today. KC said a police team will reach the site on Saturday to retrieve the body.

Read: Seven people, including three Nepalis, have gone out of contact in Annapurna Base Camp area

Seven people—four South Korean tourists and three Nepali high altitude workers—had gone out of contact in the avalanche last month. The situation of the six others remains unknown. Rescue attempts following the incident have been severely hampered due to bad weather conditions.

Rescue teams from Nepal Army, Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and local hotel entrepreneurs had been scouring the area but to no avail. A team comprising rescuers from Kathmandu and South Korea was conducting search and rescue operations but had to suspend the operations until the weather turned favourable.

Sandeep had begun his search for the missing five days ago accompanied by high-altitude workers.

The area was closed for trekking following the avalanche but trekkers now have started returning to Annapurna base camp after a month-long closure.