May 3: Identities of the people who went missing in an avalanche at Boling of Byas Rural Municipality-1 in Darchula on Tuesday have been ascertained. Four of them who disappeared while collecting Yarshagumba in the area are female while one is male, according to the Armed Police Force (APF)’s Number 50 Company, Chharung.    
Those missing have been identified as Kamala Kunwar, 38 and her son Prabin Kunwar, 18, of Duhun Rural Municipality. Likewise, Nakni Dolma Thapa, 45, Ishwari Thapa, 28, and Chhimi Somo Thapa, 15, of Jorayal Rural Municipality are also missing after the avalanche.    
APF Deputy Superintendent of Police Ishwari Dutt Bhatt said the rescue operation has been hampered due to continuous rainfall and snowfall since Tuesday night.

Following the incident, a 25-member APF team reached the incident site on Tuesday evening but returned to Chharung as rescue efforts was not possible due to rain and snowfall.

The avalanche on Tuesday afternoon buried tents occupied by groups of people from and outside the district who trekked there to collect Yarsagumba, a prized herb known for its purported aphrodisiac property. They were waiting for a favorable weather to start Yarsa collection when the disaster struck. However, some others managed to escape to safety.    
According to DSP Bhatta, 20 people who managed to escape the avalanche were brought to Chharung and they are safe. -- RSS