16 dead, hundreds missing in search of Nepal's miracle herb

The search for a potent herb, known as jeevan buti or the life-giving herb, in northern Nepal's snowy mountain slopes has resulted in the death of at least 16 people while dozens have been blinded and hundreds reported missing.

The Nepalese home ministry have said the disaster occurred due to heavy snowfall in a remote and inaccessible village called Kahigaon, about four days walk from Dunai, the headquarters of the northern Dolpa district.

In the remote north, cut off from the rest of the kingdom for absence of roads and an inadequate telecom system, the yarshagumba or cordyceps sinensis, an amazing fungus growing on butterfly larva at heights above 4000 metres, is one of the props of economy.



About 50 percent of the supply comes from Dolpa, once an ancient Tibetan kingdom and part of the ancient salt trade route between India and Tibet.

The yarshagumba rush occurred this year as well. However, from Saturday, there had been heavy snowfall without any warning. As a result, nearly 1600 villagers have been missing.

The home ministry, on the basis of reports received from the area, said 16 bodies had been found. An army helicopter went to the area to help in the rescue operations.