Two Nepali students studying Chartered Accountancy in New Delhi died due to heavy snowfall and avalanches in the Kullu Manali area of Himachal Pradesh.

Three other students, who got seriously injured, are undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The incident took place around 8pm on Wednesday. CA students Bipra Pokhrel and Santosh Ayer died on Wednesday due to snowfall on the way to their hotel.

Rahul Yadav, another student, said they called him at 8pm asking them to rescue them as soon as possible. “We approached the Nepali Embassy to facilitate the rescue process. All the five students were rescued at midnight and admitted to a local hospital. The hospital immediately announced Pokhrel and Mishra dead,” said Yadav. They had come to Delhi in August for study.

According to Yadav, the team of five students went to Himachal Pradesh for sightseeing and trekking a week ago. The three seriously injured have been identified as Nitesh Pradhan, Bikash Kandel and Arjun Mishra. “Their health is improving gradually,” he added.

The Nepali Embassy said they were providing help. “The postmortem process will begin soon after the family members arrive from Kathmandu. We are arranging for bringing the bodies as soon as possible,” said Councillor SSP Yadab Khanal.