Efforts are underway to rescue five people who were buried in an avalanche that occurred at Bhomin in Byas Rural Municipality of Darchula district on Tuesday.

Assistant Chief District Officer of Darchula Pradip Singh Dhami informed that the avalanche occurred in an area where a group 12 people had set up a tent to collect yarsagumba.

“Seven people were able to escape the avalanche while five people were buried by the avalanche,” said Dhami.

Dhami informed that a rescue team has reached the incident site and rescue is underway to find 4 women and 1 man, who were buried in the avalanche.

Among the buried, three people are from Budar in Kailali district and two people are from Pokshe in Duhu Rural Municipality.

Nepal Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Prakash Bahadur Singh of Sitapul Police Post informed that two people from the group were rescued with minor injuries.

After the news of the avalanche on Tuesday afternoon, a 30-member rescue team comprising of personnel from the Nepal Police under the command of the Sitapul Police Station Deputy Superintendent of Police and personnel from Armed Police Force No. 50 Barrack in Changru have been deployed to the incident site to conduct rescue operations.