Kathmandu, Nepal: Both the Nepali and Chinese sides of the Everest region were closed to tourism after unseasonally heavy snowfall blanketed the Himalayas, while a helicopter attempting to rescue stranded trekkers crashed in deep snowdrifts near the Everest Base Camp.
The Everest region, a major destination for thousands of climbers and trekkers each year, has been covered by heavy snow. The severe weather was caused by a cyclone originating in the Bay of Bengal that swept across India, marking the second major bout of snowfall in the Himalayas this month.
In Nepal, authorities suspended trekking activities on numerous routes due to torrential rain at lower elevations and dangerous snow conditions at higher altitudes. Hikers have been urged not to venture out or continue treks in the Annapurna, Manaslu, and Dhaulagiri regions, all home to some of the world’s highest peaks.
Cloud mass associated with #CyclonicStorm #Montha over coastal Andhra Pradesh.
It is likely to move north-northwestwards across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and #weaken into a #deepdepression during next #3hours and into a #depression during subsequent #6hours. pic.twitter.com/txz9hIVVd3
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 29, 2025
Cyclone Montha impact
A small private helicopter flying to Lobuche, a settlement near Everest Base Camp, crashed while attempting to land during a rescue operation for trekkers trapped by snow. According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul, the helicopter lost control after slipping on snow and toppled onto its side.
CAAN footage showed the aircraft lying on the ground, partially buried in snow. The pilot survived and was rescued shortly after, though it remains unclear whether the stranded trekkers were successfully evacuated.
Weather authorities have predicted that the extreme conditions will persist, with heavy snowfall and rain expected on October 30 and 31 as Cyclone Montha continues to move northward after making landfall in India’s southeastern Andhra Pradesh on October 28.
On the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, local authorities in Tingri County suspended ticket sales for tourists on October 28 afternoon as road conditions worsened, visibility declined, and ice made travel nearly impossible.
The tourism department confirmed that the closures were implemented for safety reasons amid plunging temperatures. It is not yet clear whether any tourists remain stranded in Tibet’s Everest region. Weather data indicates that temperatures in Tingri are expected to fall further below freezing later this week.
Earlier in October, the region had already faced severe weather when heavy snowfall stranded hundreds of trekkers near Everest’s eastern face on the Tibetan side. Those trapped were rescued in a large-scale operation that lasted several days under freezing conditions, successfully bringing all to safety.
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