2 climbers die in avalanche on Mount Manaslu in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- An Indian-origin German climber and a Nepali Sherpa guide died in an avalanche on Mount Manaslu in Nepal, an expedition manager said on Sunday.

The two climbers were at Camp 3 at an altitude of around 6,300 meters when they were caught in the avalanche, said Mohan Lamsal, owner and managing director of Makalu Adventure.

A group of 14 people, including seven climbers and seven Sherpa guides, had set out from the base camp to climb Mount Manaslu, which stands at 8,163 meters and is the world's eighth-highest mountain.

While 12 members stopped at Camp 2 on Saturday, the two climbers continued to Camp 3, where they spent the night. They were buried by the avalanche, Lamsal said, adding that the other 12 descended to the base camp and are safe.

Nepal has issued 493 permits for climbers seeking to scale Manaslu during the autumn climbing season of this year.