KATHMANDU: A ground team is all set to resume search and recovery for missing mountain workers at the Himlung Himal base camp today, said the expedition organizer.

Nearly 20 people, including two IFMGA/NNMGA guides, will reach the base camp in the afternoon and begin search and recovery efforts for missing kitchen staff at the base camp, which was buried by a slab avalanche on August 27, said Debashish Malla, general manager at Himalayan Holidays Nepal.

IFMGA climbers Pasang Kaji Sherpa and Bikram Karki, along with a family member of a missing person, will fly to the base camp from Kathmandu, while five climbing guides and at least 10 local residents from Manang will join the search and recovery mission, Malla said.

Earlier, a team of IFMGA guides from the Nepal National Mountain Guides Association recovered four bodies—two climbing guides and two kitchen staff—from the incident site. Nine climbing guides and 12 kitchen staff from Himalayan Holidays were stationed at the base camp when the avalanche struck their tent. Seven climbing guides remained safe. Two more kitchen staff from Imagine Nepal Treks were also missing in the avalanche

Still missing:

• Birkha Dhoj Tamang from Kavre

• Jagat Tamang from Kavre

• Ngema Dorje Tamang from Kavre

• Kalam Budha from Rukum

• Lak Kumar Gurung from Khotang

• Suraj Rai from Khotang

• Pasang Nuri Sherpa from Okhaldhunga

• Prem Tamang from Okhaldhunga

• Santa Bir Tamang from Solukhumbu

• Urkha Dhoj Bohora from Sindhupalchowk

• Kirte Tamang from Dolakha

• Ash Bahadur Gurung from Gorkha 

Bodies recovered:

• Cheebi Bhote from Sankhuwasabha

• Pasang Bhote from Sankhuwasabha

• Ghanashyam Rai from Khotang

• Birendra Gurung from Gorkha