About 140 people have been rescued from Nepal's Himalayan hiking routes, after deadly blizzards struck the region at the height of the climbing season.
At least 12 Nepalese and foreign trekkers were killed, officials say, and there are fears the final death toll will be much higher.
Helicopter rescue operations are being hampered by strong winds and at least 70 people are still unaccounted for. It is one of the deadliest spells of weather ever seen in the region.
Severe rain and snowstorms in Nepal appear to have been triggered by Cyclone Hudhud in neighbouring India. Most deaths happened when a blizzard hit a point on the Annapurna Circuit.
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| It is unclear exactly how many people are still missing |
The nationalities of those killed included Nepalese, Israeli and Polish trekkers, but there have been conflicting reports about the exact number of those who died. Earlier reports suggested up to 29 people could have perished at various points along the trail in blizzards and avalanches.
Officials point out that this is a popular trekking season and there were likely to have been many climbers on the passes.
Four Canadians and one Indian are among those reported missing and police say they will resume their search for that party on Thursday.
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One survivor described to BBC Nepali the horror of seeing corpses on the journey back after the blizzard struck. He said he saw people falling into deep crevasses, unable to get out.
Correspondents say this has not been good a year for Nepal's trekking and mountaineering industry after a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest in April killed 16 Sherpas and resulted in a massive reduction of expeditions to the world's highest peak.
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| Nepalese soldiers have been bringing back those rescued from the avalanches |
But this freak heavy snowfall caught the trekkers off guard.
Nepal's high peaks attract some of the world's best climbers - but trekking is generally safe and appeals to masses of ordinary outdoor enthusiasts.
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