Rescue efforts are underway for a group of French trekkers and mountaineers stranded in the mountains of northwest Nepal following a heavy snowfall.

According to Himalayan Rescue Operation (HRO), scores of French trekkers and mountaineers remain stranded at high altitude near the Annapurna base camp on their way to Mount Tilicho between 4,800 to 5,000 metres (15,840 to 16,500 feet) since past 24 hours due to snowfall measuring more than one metre.

Annapurna, the 11th tallest mountain in the world, stands at 8,091 metres (26,545 feet) and the nearby Mount Tilicho is 6,120 metres (20,076 feet).

Chairman of the HRO, Bikram Neupane, told Nepalnews that a rescue team led by Padam Ghale is heading for the rescue of the stranded mountaineers. The region has been hit by heavy snowfall over the last few days, he said.

“There may be other teams trapped in the area but we only have information of the French team,” he said.