Updated: September 22, 2026 | Trekkhabar.com
A deadly avalanche on Mount Manaslu (8,163 metres) has cast a shadow over Nepal’s 2026 autumn climbing season after an Indian-origin German climber and his Nepali Sherpa guide were found dead inside their tent at Camp III.
The victims have been identified as Dhruba Jyoti Guha and Phursemba Sherpa. Their deaths came after days of snowfall, strong winds, unstable mountain conditions and repeated disruption to the summit route.
The incident is particularly significant because it occurred just days after another avalanche affected the climbing route below Camp IV and buried sections of fixed rope.
At the same time, hundreds of climbers are preparing for summit attempts while a developing weather system is expected to bring further difficult conditions to Nepal later this week.
As of September 22, expeditions on Manaslu are facing a difficult choice: move toward the summit during a narrow weather window, wait for improved conditions, or abandon their attempts.
What Happened in the 2026 Manaslu Avalanche?
The fatal avalanche occurred around Camp III on Manaslu during the night of September 19–20.
Guha and Phursemba had continued upward to Camp III while other members of their expedition remained lower on the mountain. When the pair stopped responding to radio communications, expedition organisers sent Sherpa climbers to search for them.
Four Sherpa rescuers eventually located the tent and dug through several feet of snow and ice. The two climbers were found dead inside the shelter.
Reports said approximately seven feet of snow had covered the tent. Nepal’s Radio Nepal, citing the District Police Office, confirmed the deaths and identified the victims.
The precise characteristics and size of the avalanche remain a matter of discussion.
Drone imagery examined after the accident appeared to show a relatively limited area of disturbed snow above Camp III. Some experienced climbers have described the event as a small slab avalanche, while the depth of snow that buried the tent illustrates how even a comparatively limited slide can become fatal when it hits a camp.
Who Were the Manaslu Avalanche Victims?
Dhruba Jyoti Guha
Dhruba Jyoti Guha was an Indian-origin German climber participating in a commercial Manaslu expedition.
According to reports, Guha was 47 years old.
He was part of a seven-member foreign climbing team organised by Makalu Adventure. While six members remained at Camp II amid deteriorating weather, Guha and his Sherpa guide continued toward Camp III ahead of a planned summit attempt.
Phursemba Sherpa
Phursemba Sherpa, also reported as Fursemba Sherpa in some international reports, was a Nepali high-altitude guide from Makalu district.
He was working with Guha during the expedition when the avalanche struck their tent at Camp III.
The deaths highlight a point often overlooked in Himalayan climbing coverage: high-altitude workers face the same objective hazards as their clients while frequently carrying out the route-fixing, load-carrying, guiding and rescue work that makes commercial expeditions possible.
A Second Avalanche Had Already Disrupted the Manaslu Route
The fatal Camp III avalanche was not the first significant avalanche incident of the 2026 season.
On September 16, an avalanche struck the route below Camp IV and buried part of the fixed ropes.
No deaths were reported in that incident, but the avalanche disrupted the work of the rope-fixing team at a critical point in the season.
Additional Sherpa climbers were subsequently mobilised to help reopen the route. They carried approximately 1,300 metres of replacement rope and equipment toward the higher camps.
The summit route was subsequently opened after a rope-fixing team reached the top of Manaslu on September 17.
The route-opening operation was completed despite difficult conditions, allowing commercial expeditions to begin preparing for their summit pushes.
That achievement, however, did not mean that the mountain had become stable.
The route being technically open and the mountain being objectively safe are two very different things.
Why Is Avalanche Danger Elevated on Manaslu?
Avalanches occur when a mass of snow loses stability and slides downhill. On an 8,000-metre Himalayan peak, several factors can combine to increase the danger:
- Fresh snowfall can add weight to an existing snowpack.
- Strong winds can transport snow and create wind-loaded slabs.
- New snow may fail to bond properly with older layers.
- Rapid changes in weather can destabilise the snowpack.
- Repeated snowfall can bury previous tracks and fixed infrastructure.
- Steep terrain provides the gravitational force necessary for snow to release.
The situation on Manaslu in September 2026 has involved several of these ingredients.
Reports from the mountain describe persistent snowfall and strong winds, while expeditions have been forced to reassess their plans because of changing conditions.
The danger is not limited to enormous, mountain-wide avalanches.
The Camp III tragedy is a reminder that a relatively small slab release can have catastrophic consequences if a tent or climber is directly in its path.
Manaslu Summit Route Opened — But Conditions Remained Dangerous
The 2026 Manaslu climbing season had already experienced delays before the fatal Camp III avalanche.
A nine-member rope-fixing team reached the 8,163-metre summit on September 17, completing the fixed-line route to the top.
The team was led by Chhiring Bhote and included experienced high-altitude Sherpa climbers. Additional support was brought in after the earlier avalanche disrupted the route.
The opening of the route created the possibility of a large number of climbers moving toward the summit within a relatively short period.
That created another challenge: traffic and crowding at high altitude.
Reports during the season put the number of foreign climbing clients at roughly 480–493, depending on the date and source, alongside hundreds of Nepali guides and support workers.
With so many climbers acclimatising simultaneously, a short weather window can produce concentrated traffic on the same sections of the route.
Why the Weather Window Matters So Much in 2026
Weather has become the defining factor in the Manaslu summit campaign.
Several expeditions have been evaluating whether to attempt the summit around September 23–24, before more difficult weather is expected later in the week.
Heavy snowfall has already affected climbing operations, and forecasts indicate that conditions from September 24 onward could become considerably more challenging.
Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has been monitoring weather conditions and providing forecasts relevant to rainfall, snowfall and mountain hazards.
The developing system over the Bay of Bengal has added another layer of uncertainty.
Reports citing meteorological forecasts indicate the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall across parts of Nepal from September 24 onward. At Manaslu’s high elevations, precipitation that falls as rain in lower elevations can translate into significant snowfall higher on the mountain.
That distinction matters.
For people at lower elevations, a period of heavy rain may primarily mean wet roads and flooding concerns.
At 7,000–8,000 metres, the same weather system can mean:
fresh snow + wind + poor visibility + unstable slopes + difficult route-finding.
Why Are Climbers Still Moving Toward the Summit?
The obvious question following two avalanche incidents is why teams would continue climbing.
The answer is the nature of Himalayan expedition logistics.
An 8,000-metre expedition is not simply a matter of deciding to climb on a particular morning.
Teams spend weeks acclimatising, establishing camps, transporting oxygen and equipment, fixing ropes, organising Sherpa support and waiting for a suitable summit window.
Once a route is opened, a favourable weather window may be extremely valuable.
But the opposite is also true.
A short weather window can create pressure for many teams to move simultaneously, increasing congestion and reducing the amount of time available for conservative decision-making.
That tension is now visible on Manaslu.
Some expeditions have continued preparing for summit attempts, while others have retreated or reconsidered their plans following the latest snowfall and avalanche.
The 2026 Manaslu Death Toll
The Camp III avalanche brought the reported number of deaths on Manaslu during the autumn 2026 season to four, according to multiple reports.
The other reported fatalities occurred under different circumstances.
A Singaporean climber, Lau Wee Seng, died at approximately 6,000 metres while descending during an acclimatisation rotation on September 17. Reports said an initial assessment considered a possible cardiac event, although the cause had not been officially established at the time of reporting.
Earlier in the season, a young Nepali high-altitude worker, Tashi Sherpa, was found dead inside a tent at Manaslu Base Camp.
These cases should not be treated as a single type of mountain accident.
The Manaslu 2026 fatalities have involved different circumstances, including altitude-related and avalanche-related hazards.
How Serious Is the Manaslu Avalanche Risk Right Now?
There is no responsible way to reduce the current situation to a simple “safe” or “unsafe” label.
Avalanche danger can vary dramatically over relatively short distances and time periods.
A route that was passable in the morning can become significantly more hazardous after fresh snowfall or wind loading.
Likewise, a slope can remain stable while a neighbouring slope releases.
For climbers already on the mountain, expedition leaders and high-altitude guides therefore need to evaluate conditions continuously rather than relying solely on a previous weather forecast or the fact that the fixed route has been opened.
The September 16 avalanche and the September 20 Camp III tragedy demonstrate why.
What Happened to the Manaslu Summit Push?
The climbing community has effectively split into several groups.
Some teams have continued moving upward and preparing for summit attempts around September 23–24.
Others have chosen to wait at lower camps or Base Camp while monitoring conditions.
Some climbers and expeditions have reportedly abandoned their summit attempts altogether.
The decisions are being made against a backdrop of fresh snow, high winds and the possibility of another period of severe weather later in the week.
This means that the number of successful Manaslu summits in the coming days will depend heavily on whether the mountain provides a sufficiently stable weather window.
Manaslu Avalanche 2026: What Trekkers Should Know
It is important to distinguish the Manaslu climbing expedition route from the Manaslu Circuit Trek.
The fatal avalanche occurred high on Manaslu, around Camp III, at an elevation far above the normal trekking route.
A person trekking the Manaslu Circuit is not automatically exposed to the same avalanche terrain as an 8,000-metre climber.
However, wider weather systems can affect the entire Manaslu region.
Heavy precipitation can create other problems for trekkers, including:
- Landslides
- Rockfall
- Snow accumulation at high passes
- Slippery trails
- Difficult river and stream crossings
- Road disruption
- Flight delays
- Reduced visibility
- Lodge and route-access problems
Trekkers planning the Manaslu Circuit should therefore monitor official weather information and consult their local guide or trekking agency before departure, particularly during periods of significant precipitation.
What Happens Next on Manaslu?
The immediate focus is the weather window around September 23–24.
Several teams are preparing for summit attempts, while others are waiting or withdrawing.
After that period, forecasts indicate potentially more difficult weather conditions from September 24 onward.
The mountain’s next phase will depend on how much new snow accumulates, how winds affect the upper slopes, whether the fixed route remains usable, and whether another stable summit window develops.
For expedition teams, the most important question is therefore not simply whether the summit route is open.
It is whether the route remains safe enough to use under the current snowpack and weather conditions.
Manaslu Avalanche 2026: Timeline
September 10:
Rope-fixing teams complete the route to around Camp III as preparations for the autumn summit season continue.
September 16:
An avalanche strikes below Camp IV and buries part of the fixed rope, disrupting summit-route operations.
September 17:
A rope-fixing team reaches the 8,163-metre summit and completes the summit route. A Singaporean climber also dies during an acclimatisation descent.
September 19–20:
An avalanche buries a tent at Camp III containing Dhruba Jyoti Guha and Phursemba Sherpa.
September 20:
Rescuers locate the two climbers beneath the snow. Their deaths bring the reported Manaslu autumn-season death toll to four.
September 21:
Heavy snowfall continues to affect the mountain. Some expeditions reconsider their summit plans while others prepare for a possible weather window.
September 22:
Expeditions remain divided between summit attempts, waiting and retreat as another period of difficult weather approaches.
The Bigger Lesson From the 2026 Manaslu Avalanche
The Manaslu avalanche tragedy is not simply a story about an avalanche.
It is a story about the combination of fresh snow, wind, unstable terrain, extreme altitude, crowded high camps and a shrinking weather window.
Manaslu is one of the world’s highest mountains, but its reputation as a comparatively accessible 8,000-metre peak can sometimes obscure the seriousness of its upper mountain.
- At 8,000 metres, there is little margin for error.
- A fixed rope does not eliminate avalanche danger.
- A clear summit route does not guarantee stable snow.
- And a short weather window does not necessarily mean conditions are safe.
- The deaths of Dhruba Jyoti Guha and Phursemba Sherpa underline that reality.
As the autumn 2026 season continues, the mountain community will be watching three things closely: snow stability, weather and the movement of climbers through the upper camps.
For now, Manaslu remains open for climbing, but the mountain is clearly in a period of rapidly changing conditions.
Trekkhabar.com will continue to monitor the Manaslu 2026 climbing season, avalanche conditions, summit attempts, weather developments and official updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did an avalanche happen on Manaslu in 2026?
Yes. Multiple avalanche incidents have been reported during the autumn 2026 climbing season. A September 16 avalanche disrupted fixed ropes below Camp IV, while a later avalanche at Camp III killed two climbers.
How many people died in the Manaslu avalanche?
Two people — climber Dhruba Jyoti Guha and Nepali Sherpa guide Phursemba Sherpa — died after their tent at Camp III was buried by an avalanche.
Where did the deadly Manaslu avalanche happen?
The fatal avalanche occurred at Camp III on Mount Manaslu, at high altitude on the climbing route.
What caused the Manaslu avalanche?
Reports indicate that persistent snowfall, strong winds and unstable snow conditions were contributing factors. The exact mechanics and size of the slide remain under discussion, with drone imagery suggesting the avalanche may have been a relatively small slab release.
Is Manaslu safe to climb now?
Conditions are changing rapidly, so a blanket safety assessment would be misleading. Expeditions are making decisions based on current snow, wind, route and weather conditions. Several teams have continued toward high camps while others have delayed or abandoned summit attempts.
Is the Manaslu Circuit Trek affected by the avalanche?
The fatal avalanche occurred high on the mountaineering route rather than on the normal Manaslu Circuit Trek route. However, the same wider weather systems can affect trekking conditions through snowfall, landslides, road disruption and difficult high-pass conditions.
When is the next Manaslu summit window?
As of September 22, several expeditions are preparing for possible summit attempts around September 23–24. Conditions after September 24 are expected to become more challenging, so plans remain subject to weather and mountain conditions.
References
- Radio Nepal — Report on the deaths of two climbers at Camp III on Manaslu, including identification of the victims and details of the rescue.
- The Himalayan Times — Reporting on the 2026 Manaslu expedition season, summit-route opening, fatalities and climbing operations.
- Everest Chronicle — Reports on the Camp III avalanche, victims, expedition numbers and developing Manaslu conditions.
- ExplorersWeb — Reporting on the September 16 avalanche, fixed-rope disruption, replacement rope and summit-route conditions.
- Gripped — Reporting and analysis concerning avalanche conditions and the developing summit window.
- Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal — Official weather and meteorological information relevant to Nepal and Himalayan conditions.
Reporting note: This article reflects information available through September 22, 2026. Mountain conditions can change rapidly, and details surrounding an ongoing expedition or accident may be revised as authorities, expedition operators and rescuers provide additional information.
