Mount Everest snowstorm traps almost 1,000 people as rescuers race to camps

A huge search operation has been launched in Tibet after 1,000 people were left stranded on Mount Everest due to a severe snowstorm.

Hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams have been deployed to clear snow and restore access to areas above 4,900 metres, according to reports in Chinese media. Nearly 1,000 people are believed to be stuck on the Tibetan side's eastern slopes of the mountain.

It is believed that some tourists have already been rescued. Heavy snowfall began in the area on Friday evening and it intensified on the eastern slopes, which are popular with climbers and hikers.

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Chinese state media reported that Tibet's Blue Sky Rescue team received a call for help after tents collapsed due to heavy snow. There are also fears that some hikers were suffering from hypothermia following the heavy snowfall.

Snowfall began on Friday evening, continuing throughout Saturday. As a result, the local Tingri County Tourism Company suspended ticket sales and enry to the Everest Scenic Area.

According to Chinese state media Jimu News, 350 people had been rescued and reached the small township of Qudang. The outlet reported that contact had been made with the more than 200 people who were still stuck on Everest.

It's not the first time numerous people remain stranded on Mount Everest. Back in 2010, around 2,000 tourists were stuck in a small village over 9,000ft up a slope due to storm conditions for five days.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Nepal, at least 47 people were killed in the past two days after heavy rain triggered landslides and flash floods. And 35 people died during different landslides in the Ilam district, which borders India.

Authorities in both regions are intensifying rescue operations in an effort to reach both local communities and tourists affected by the severe weather conditions. In addition, areas in northern and southern Bengal have been flooded due to sudden heavy rains.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that she was "deeply worried", and assured that all necessary assistance would be sent to the affected families immediately, the Hindustan Times reported. "Yesterday (Saturday) night there was sudden rainfall exceeding 300 mm in 12 hours in North Bengal," she said.

"And there was simultaneously excessive flow of water into Sankosh river and generally flow of river waters from Bhutan and Sikkim. This caused disasters." She added that two iron bridges had collapsed, several roads were damaged and flooded.