Nepal earthquake: 65 mountaineers may have died at the Everest base camp, says Army

Kathmandu: A major earthquake in Nepal on Saturday unleashed an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing at least 65 mountaineers and raising fears for other climbers on the world's highest peak, Army official said.

IAF helicopters on Sunday morning reached Mount Everest for the rescue operations. The Mountaineering Association said it is trying to airlift surviving climbers out of the base camp.

Nearly 1,000 mountaineers are stranded at the base camp.

Bad weather frustrated efforts to rescue hundreds of climbers.

An Indian army climbing team found 18 bodies on Saturday in the first hours after the quake, an army spokesman said.