KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 8

At least three Nepali climbers who were injured in Shishapangma avalanche yesterday are being rescued to the base camp, sources said.

"Rescuers from Imagine Nepal, Seven Summit Treks, Elite Exped and Climbalaya Treks have been bringing injured three climbers down from the high camps," base camp officials told THT.

Renowned climber Mingma G Sherpa who suffered injuries above Camp III was brought down to Camp II last night and is now being rescued to the base camp, officials said, adding that a team of rescuers was also struggling hard to rescue Karma Gyalzen Sherpa from the Camp III. Tibetan Himalayan Expedition has also mobilized 20 Tibetan guides to support rescue evacuation efforts. It also put a medical team standby at the base camp, sources said. "Five Tibetan guides have already reached above Camp I while others are on their way to ABC."

"A team of Sherpa climbers has already reached Camp III to rescue Karma Gyalzen," the officials added.

Another injured climber Kami Rita Sherpa has also been brought below Camp II, according to them.

"Efforts are still underway to secure helicopter permits from Chinese authorities to airlift injured climbers."

At least two climbers died and two others were missing after two separate avalanches swept away the main climbing route on Shishapangma yesterday.

Rescuers have recovered bodies of two climbers - American woman climber Anna Gutu and her guide Mingmar Sherpa from the avalanche site. American woman climber Gina Marie and her guide Tenjen (Lama) Sherpa have gone missing in the avalanche.

According to sources, an avalanche struck the climb route above 7,800m at around 11:00am killing Anna Gutu and Mingmar Sherpa. Another avalanche hit Gina and Tenjen at around 1:00pm when they reached some 80m below the summit point choosing a slightly different route above Camp III, sources shared.

The incident occurred when Anna Gutu and Gina Marie were in a tough race to be the first American woman to scale all 14 peaks. The duo had already completed their 13th peak by climbing Cho Oyu.

Following the incident, most of the climbers have abandoned their plans to summit Shishapangma.

Ground searches have, however, failed to trace the missing climbers - Tenjen and Gina, according to sources. Tenjen is the record holding Sherpa climber who along with Kristin Harila scaled all 14 peaks in 92 days.