At least nine people were missing and feared buried in an avalanche that occurred at Bolin in Byas Rural Municipality-1 of Darchula district on Tuesday. It has been suspected that the people who had gone to pick yarsagumba caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinensis) were affected by the avalanche that took place at around 3 pm today, the District Police Office, Darchula said. A team of 30 security personnel under the command of DSP has gone to the incident area.

Details about the incident are awaited, police said.