KATHMANDU, OCT 16: At least 20 people including 8 foreign hikers died on their way to Mount Annapurna on Wednesday due to avalanche and blizzards. The number of deaths might rise as there are no confirmation yet about the dozens of other foreigners and locals who too had been trekking and there are chances that they might have been caught in the blizzards.

Miss Nepal 2012 Shristi Shrestha too was trekking in the same circuit on the same day. As per her recent post on her facebook account, she too was trekking with the trekkers who were caught in a blizzard at Thorong La pass area on Tuesday. The group was together till Ghunsang camp from where Shristi had to return back to Manang as her partner fell sick, while rest of the trekkers continued their trek.

Here is what Shristi wrote on her post:

“I am absolutely speechless! The group that were crossing the Thorong la Pass was the one me and my partner were traveling with since the beginning of the Annapurna circuit. Many have lost their lives in the snowstorm and many more are untraceable right now. We were all together till camp Ghunsang, then I had to urgently trek down towards Manang as my partner fell terribly ill with altitude sickness, while the rest of the group carried on to Thorong pass, where this misfortune was awaiting. Dear god, please help find the lost travellers and those who lost their lives…rest in eternal peace my friends.“