Cyclone Hudhud: Four Trekkers Die in Avalanche in Nepal

Four trekkers have died in an avalanche in central Nepal due to severe weather caused by Cyclone Hudhud.

Police have confirmed that two Polish citizens, one Israeli and a Nepalese person were dead. The party lost communication due to heavy rain and snowfall while trekking on the popular Annapurna route.

Baburam Bhandari, the chief officer of Mustang district said four Israelis and four Polish citizens and a Nepalese person had been rescued, however.

A group of 168 people were trekking towards the Thorung La pass in the mountains of Nepal, about 160km (100 miles) northwest of the capital Katmandu, when a few of them lost contact because of the severe weather.

"We have received information that most of those headed to Thorang La are returning after weather hampered their trip," said Devendra Lamichanne, chief officer of the Manang district.

In a separate incident, Lamichanne said that two bodies of three yak herders, who went missing in Naar village in Manan, had been recovered.

But one was still missing after an avalanche on Tuesday.

Nepal has been experiencing bad weather since Cyclone Hudhud hit India; severe weather conditions have killed 24 people and damaged thousands of homes with falling trees and masonry.

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa on 14 October were stepping up efforts to provide aid to 400,000 people affected by the cyclone.