Mount Everest: More than 1,000 people trapped by blizzard on mountain

More than 1,000 people were trapped on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest due to a blizzard, according to Chinese state media. On Sunday, rescue efforts were underway. Rescue teams, including hundreds of local villagers, have been deployed to the area, which sits at an elevation of over 4,900 metres or 16,000 feet. There have been reports on Chinese social media that some of the victims were suffering from hypothermia.

Rescuers are helping to remove snow blocking access to the affected area, Reuters reports, citing a report in Jimu News. Some tourists on the mountain have already been brought down, it suggested. Snowfall started on Friday evening and kept going through Saturday, according to the Tingri County Tourism Company The firm added that ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area were suspended on Saturday evening. It comes after, in Nepal, just across the border from China, heavy rains saw landslides and flash floods that blocked roads.

The conditions also washed away bridges and killed a reported 47 people at least since Friday, according to local police.

35 people died during different landslides in the Ilam district, which borders India.

Nine people were reported missing after floodwaters hit the region, with three others killed in lightning strikes elsewhere.

In addition, areas in northern and southern Bengal have been flooded due to sudden heavy rains.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that she was "deeply worried", and assured that all necessary assistance would be sent to the affected families immediately, the Hindustan Times reported.

"Yesterday (Saturday) night there was sudden rainfall exceeding 300 mm in 12 hours in North Bengal," she said, "and there was simultaneously excessive flow of water into Sankosh river and generally flow of river waters from Bhutan and Sikkim.

"This caused disasters."

She added that two iron bridges had collapsed, several roads were damaged and flooded.

Moreover, huge tracts of land in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar were "inundated".

There had also been reports of "worrying damages and losses", particularly in Mirik, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Matigara and Alipurduar.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS STORY...