May 3:  An avalanche hit Byas Rural Municipality-1, Boling in Darchula, burying the tents where yarsagumba pickers were taking shelter on Tuesday afternoon.

Some individuals have reportedly gone missing after the avalanche buried the tent where they had been temporarily residing, informed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of the Armed Police Force (APF), Number 50 Company, Chhangaru, Iswori Dutta Bhatta.

APF DSP Iswori Dutta Bhatta said that a team of 25 APF personnel is on the way to the site, but the rescue operation may be hampered by the high altitude and bad weather conditions.

The yarsagumba pickers, who had been collecting precious herbs in the high altitude area, had been living in the tents for the past few days due to continuous snowfall. 

The incident was reported when some pickers who were outside the tent to search for firewood informed the authorities about the avalanche. 

The yarsa pickers were not only from the local area but also from other districts. 

Byas-1 ward chairperson Ashok Bohora said the yarsa pickers had ascended to the high altitude area to collect precious herbs some days ago.

 "There was continuous snowfall. The yarsa pickers had been living in the tent but could not go outside for yarsa hunting", he shared. 

Information Officer at the District Police Office, Darchula, Inspector Gyanendra Bahadur Singh informed that a police team from the Byas-based Sita Bridge was also heading to the incident site.