Yarsagumba collector killed in fatal cliff fall in Gorkha

By Guna Bahadur Roka, Sullikot, May 23: A young man who had gone to collect Yarsagumba in Chumnubri Rural Municipality of northern Gorkha died after falling from a cliff.

The deceased has been identified as 25-year-old Prakash Gurung, a permanent resident of Pangsing, of Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3. He died after falling from a cliff while returning home from the Buddha Himal area.

"Two brothers had gone to pick Yarsagumba together in the high Himalayan region few days ago. After collecting Yarsagumba, he lost contact on Saturday while returning home. Relatives launched a search operation and found his body at around 4 AM on Saturday morning in the glacier area," said Ward Member Bikash Gurung.

The four brothers from the same family were returning after collecting Yarsagumba. The deceased, Prakash Gurung, had been walking ahead of the others, but when he did not arrive at the place where they planned to stay overnight, a search was started. Despite darkness and the difficult Himalayan terrain, they eventually found him near a glacier after he had fallen from a cliff.

Locals said that Prakash’s body was brought back to the village on Saturday and that his funeral would be conducted according to Gurung community traditions.

Every year, risky accidents occur during Yarsagumba collection in high Himalayan regions.

Due to difficult terrain, unsafe trails, and adverse weather conditions, incidents of local youths losing their lives continue to repeat, highlighting the need for better safety management and arrangements.