Manaslu Avalanche 2026: Two Climbers Killed at Camp III as Heavy Snow Disrupts Autumn Expeditions
Manaslu Avalanche 2026: Two Climbers Killed at Camp III as Heavy Snow Disrupts Autumn Expeditions
September 21, 2026 | Manaslu, Gorkha, Nepal
A tragic avalanche on Mount Manaslu (8,163 metres) has claimed the lives of two climbers during Nepal's 2026 autumn mountaineering season.
An Indian-origin German climber, Dhruba Jyoti Guha, and Nepali Sherpa guide Phursemba Sherpa were found dead inside their tent at Camp III after heavy snowfall and an avalanche struck the area on Saturday night.
The incident has brought the reported number of deaths on Mount Manaslu during the current autumn climbing season to four. It has also renewed attention to the rapidly changing weather and snow conditions affecting high-altitude expeditions in Nepal.
At the same time, it is important for travelers to understand that the incident occurred at the high-altitude mountaineering camps, rather than on the main Manaslu Circuit trekking trail.
What Happened at Camp III?
According to reports from expedition organisers and Nepalese authorities, Guha and Phursemba Sherpa moved from Camp II toward Camp III as part of an attempt to position themselves for a summit push.
Other members of their climbing team decided to descend because of deteriorating weather conditions. Guha and Sherpa remained higher on the mountain.
Heavy snowfall continued through the night, and contact with the two climbers was subsequently lost.
A search team was sent toward Camp III after communication stopped. Rescuers eventually found the climbers inside their tent, which had been buried beneath several feet of snow.
Reports from the expedition organiser said the tent was buried under approximately seven feet of snow.
The incident demonstrates one of the most serious hazards of high-altitude mountaineering: conditions can deteriorate rapidly, and heavy snowfall can completely cover tents, fixed ropes and established routes within a short period.
Who Were the Victims?
The two climbers have been identified as:
Dhruba Jyoti Guha
Dhruba Jyoti Guha was an Indian-origin German national participating in the autumn Manaslu expedition.
He was part of a foreign climbing team attempting to reach the summit of the 8,163-metre mountain.
Phursemba Sherpa
Phursemba Sherpa was a Nepali mountain guide from the Makalu region of eastern Nepal.
As a Sherpa guide, he was supporting the expedition at high altitude and was with Guha when the avalanche struck their tent.
The deaths are a painful reminder that mountain guides and high-altitude workers face the same severe objective hazards as expedition members while supporting climbers on Nepal's highest peaks.
Four Deaths Reported on Manaslu This Season
The latest tragedy brings the reported number of deaths on Manaslu during the 2026 autumn climbing season to four.
Earlier in the season, a Nepali porter/guide, Tashi Sherpa, died at base camp. A Singaporean climber, Lau Wee Seng, later died during an acclimatization rotation at approximately 6,000 metres. The circumstances of Lau's death were reported as a medical emergency, although the precise cause was not initially officially established.
The deaths have occurred during a particularly busy season on Manaslu.
According to Radio Nepal, 480 climbers had received permits to climb Manaslu for the 2026 autumn season.
Other reporting has described hundreds of foreign climbers and a large number of Nepali guides and support staff operating on the mountain.
Heavy Snowfall Creates Difficult Conditions
The avalanche occurred after several days of persistent snowfall and difficult weather at high altitude.
Reports indicate that heavy snow had already disrupted climbing operations before the fatal Camp III incident.
On September 16, another avalanche in the upper Manaslu climbing area disrupted rope-fixing operations. The rope-fixing team was forced to adjust its plans before the summit route could be reopened.
More recently, heavy snowfall has again caused expedition teams to reconsider summit attempts.
Some teams have postponed their summit plans while others have been waiting for a suitable weather window. A September 21 report noted that several teams were no longer proceeding with their planned summit attempts as snowfall increased, while other climbers were positioning themselves for possible summit pushes.
This illustrates why weather forecasting is particularly important on an 8,000-metre peak.
Why Are Avalanches Dangerous on Manaslu?
Avalanches are one of the major objective hazards faced by climbers in the high Himalaya.
An avalanche can be triggered naturally by:
- Heavy snowfall
- Rapid accumulation of fresh snow
- Strong winds
- Warming temperatures
- Weak layers within the snowpack
- Movement across unstable slopes
- Cornice collapse
- Changes in snow and ice conditions
At high altitude, an avalanche does not need to be enormous to become deadly.
A relatively small slab of unstable snow can bury tents, fixed ropes or climbers in seconds.
Recent imagery and reporting have also raised questions about the precise size of the avalanche involved in the Camp III incident. Some reports have described it as a relatively small slab avalanche rather than a huge mountain-wide slide. Regardless of its size, the snow buried the victims' tent and resulted in two deaths.
Manaslu Is More Than One Route
One important point has been overlooked in some social-media discussions about the incident.
Mount Manaslu's climbing route and the Manaslu Circuit trekking route are not the same thing.
The recent fatal avalanche occurred at Camp III, at high altitude on the mountaineering route toward the summit.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek, meanwhile, follows a much lower-altitude trekking corridor through villages and mountain valleys around the Manaslu region.
Therefore, the news of an avalanche at Camp III should not automatically be interpreted as a closure of the entire Manaslu Circuit.
What About the Manaslu Circuit Trek?
The Manaslu Circuit has also experienced serious weather-related disruption this month, so trekkers should not ignore current conditions.
On September 6, 2026, flooding along a stream in the Chumnubri Rural Municipality area destroyed a pedestrian suspension bridge and affected several houses. The incident temporarily disrupted movement along the Manaslu Circuit.
Local communities subsequently worked to restore access.
On September 11, the Nepal Tourism Board issued a situation update stating that damaged structures along the trekking route around Chumnubri Rural Municipality–4, Namrung had been restored to a condition suitable for trekking and that the earlier restriction on that section had been lifted. The Tourism Board also advised travelers to continue monitoring local conditions and follow necessary safety precautions.
This means the situation needs