An Indian-German climber and a Nepali mountaineer have been killed in an avalanche on Mount Manaslu in Nepal, where two Kenyan climbers are also among hundreds of mountaineers attempting to summit the world’s eighth-highest mountain.
Officials said Dhruba Jyoti Guha, an Indian-German climber, and Fursemba Sherpa, a Nepali climber, were killed in an avalanche at Camp III on Mount Manaslu.
The two had reportedly moved higher from Camp II on the previous evening in preparation for an early summit attempt when the avalanche struck.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the difficult conditions on the mountain, where heavy snowfall has already disrupted summit attempts during Nepal’s ongoing Autumn 2026 climbing season.
Among those waiting for a safer weather window are Kenyan mountaineers Swabra Swaleh Breik and Daniel Moenga, who are attempting the 8,163-metre peak alongside climbers from around the world.
The two Kenyans have successfully completed their acclimatisation rotation on Manaslu and were preparing for their final summit push before heavy snowfall forced climbers to pause further ascents.
Mount Manaslu, located in Nepal’s Himalayas, is the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres above sea level. Its climbing season typically attracts hundreds of mountaineers seeking to reach its summit.
With conditions currently deteriorating, climbers have been forced to wait for improved weather and safer conditions before making further attempts to move towards the summit.
The deaths at Camp III underscore the risks facing mountaineers as they navigate the upper sections of Manaslu, where avalanches, heavy snowfall, extreme cold and rapidly changing weather can pose serious challenges.
The focus now turns to weather conditions and the safety of climbers still on the mountain, including the two Kenyans awaiting an opportunity to make their final summit attempt.
