KATHMANDU: Two senior high-altitude rescue experts from Switzerland and Italy along with senior IFMGA Nepali guide departed for Yalung Ri peak in the Rolwaling valley on Thursday to aid in the search and recovery of climbers buried in a November 3 avalanche.

Bruno Joseph Jelk from Switzerland, Michele Cucchi from Italy and Nepali IFMGA rescue expert Chhiring Pande Bhote, flew from Tribhuvan International Airport to the Yalung Ri base camp aboard the Simrik Air and Heli Everest helicopters. “They are equipped with sophisticated high-altitude rescue equipment and detectors,” officials said.

Bruno Jelk is the Terrestrial Commission President for The International Committee for Alpine Rescue (IKAR-CISA) and one of the world's best rescuers. A renowned head of Swiss rescue, had also initiated RECCO trainings in Kathmandu in the past. Bruno, a Multi Evacuation Rescue System expert, is known for Shades of Winter: Between (2016), The Alps (2007) and Helicopter Rescuer in the Himalayas (2013). Michele Cucchi is a devoted alpine guide and renowned high-altitude rescue instructor from Italy.

A four-member Nepali rescue team, led by IFMGA/NNMGA guide Riten Jangbu Sherpa and including IFMGA/NNMGA guides Pasang Kidar Sherpa, Chhiring Sonam Lama, and aspirant guide Pasang Temba Sherpa, is already conducting search operations for the five missing climbers.

According to officials, the foreign experts will join the Nepali guides in searching for Italian-Canadian Marco Di Marcello, Italian Markus Kirchler, German Jakob Schreiber, and Nepali guides Padam Tamang and Mere Karki.

On November 5, the bodies of two victims—Italian climber Paolo Cocco and French national Christian Andre Manfredi—were airlifted to Kathmandu and taken to the Teaching Hospital for post-mortem.

The avalanche struck on the morning of November 3 as a team of climbers was ascending a steep ice slope near the summit. At least seven climbers, including five foreigners, were buried. Five others were injured in the incident and are now undergoing treatment in Kathmandu hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Consul General of Italy in Kolkata Riccardo Dalla Costa, who is competent for Nepal, arrived in Kathmandu on November 5 to coordinate directly with the Nepalese authorities and search teams, in close liaison with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Farnesina).

As per the statement by the office of the Consul General, there remains no news of seven other Italian nationals, including Marco Di Marcello and Markus Kirchler, both of whom were in the Yalung Ri area and are currently reported missing. “In recent days, several areas of the Nepalese Himalayas have been affected by a series of avalanches that have struck numerous mountaineers, including Italian citizens.

Communication between local authorities, rescue teams, and the diplomatic missions of the countries involved continues to be extremely challenging.”