MUSTANG:  A German tourist and his Nepali guide have gone missing while trekking through the Dhaulagiri Base Camp area, located near Thasang Rural Municipality–1, Dhaulagiri region of Mustang.

Dhaulagiri, the world’s seventh-highest mountain standing at 8,167 meters, attracts many adventure trekkers every year.

According to Mustang District Police Office, 32-year-old German national Damino Delfaflo and his guide Mima went missing from around 9:30 p.m. on Friday after entering the Dhampus Lake area via the Dhaulagiri trekking route in Myagdi.

Search operations have already begun after they went out of contact. After confirming that the missing pair had crossed into Mustang from the Myagdi border, Seven Summit Treks has launched aerial search operations.

Police said that despite extensive helicopter searches in the suspected area, the duo could not be located, and ground search operations are now being intensified.

The Dhaulagiri circuit, which can be accessed from both Myagdi and Mustang sides, is popular among adventure trekkers but is considered one of Nepal’s most challenging and risky routes due to frequent snowfall and harsh terrain.