Dozens of Israelis Stranded in Nepal Himalayas Amidst Severe Weather

Dozens of Israeli travelers are stranded in the village of Samagaon in Nepal's Manaslu region of the Himalayas due to severe weather conditions. Rockfalls, blocked roads, and damaged bridges have trapped the Israelis, who are increasingly concerned about their safety and are urging for expedited rescue efforts. "There are rockfalls over our heads every few hours. We don't need to wait for a disaster to happen," one Israeli told Ynet, expressing fears of further deterioration and the potential for floods and destruction if another rockslide occurs.

Travelers report a lack of electricity and describe their survival as miraculous, with fallen bridges and impassable roads preventing any movement forward or backward. They have contacted their insurance companies, but have been informed that a full evacuation is not currently possible. The stranded Israelis are pleading for immediate assistance, emphasizing that they do not want to wait for casualties or missing persons before action is taken.

Two groups, one of four and another of five, have been stuck in Samagaon since Friday after arriving for acclimatization. Rockfalls began occurring every few hours, posing a significant danger due to the potential to trigger avalanches and floods. Travelers have stressed that while they are currently safe, another single rockslide could prove fatal.

Local residents are reportedly in a state of panic, particularly following a flood incident last month. The situation has created an atmosphere of fear, with Israelis and locals anticipating a sleepless night and remaining on high alert. Rescue efforts are being hampered by the weather, with a window of opportunity opening on the day of reporting allowing some evacuations to begin.

PassportCard, an insurance company, is assisting dozens of Israeli travelers in various affected areas, with groups in Annapurna, Manaslu, Chhoms, and Everest regions. Four policyholders require medical attention and will be evacuated when weather permits. Currently, none are considered to be in life-threatening danger, though travel remains severely restricted across Nepal.

This situation is separate from a recent incident where a snowslide hit a base camp on Mount Himlung, leaving at least ten Nepalis missing. Heavy snowfall has also impacted climbing expeditions in the Manaslu and Dhaulagiri regions, while heavy rains have caused landslides and road blockages elsewhere in the country.