The bodies of two men from Mugu who went missing after being caught in an avalanche while collecting medicinal herbs near the Mugu-Humla border have been found, police said.

The bodies of Anga Bahadur Rokaya and Lalit Jung Baduwal, both from Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality-9, were recovered by a joint security team, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Rabi Raj Thapaliya of the District Police Office, Mugu.

Rokaya’s body had been found earlier, on October 3, buried under snow in the Limi Patan area along the border between Mugu and Humla’s Chankheli Rural Municipality-2. Baduwal’s body was found on Wednesday in the Sano Mimi area, Thapaliya said.

The two had been missing since September 18 after leaving with a 13-member group to collect medicinal herbs.

A joint security team led by the Nepali Army was mobilised following a decision by the district security committee to search for the missing men. The team left for the area on October 5.

Despite the difficult Himalayan terrain, high altitude, long distances and adverse weather, the security forces continued the search and recovered both bodies.

The bodies are now being brought to a safer location, Thapaliya said. Once they are brought down, the authorities will complete the necessary legal procedures before handing them over to their families.