More than 200 hikers still stranded as blizzard hits Mount Everest

Chinese rescuers were on Monday rushing to evacuate hundreds of hikers stranded on the eastern slope of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, after heavy snowfall blanketed campsites over the weekend

Chinese rescuers were on Monday rushing to evacuate hundreds of hikers stranded on the eastern slope of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, after heavy snowfall blanketed campsites over the weekend.

Nearly 350 hikers have already traveled to safety at a rendezvous point in the small township of Qudang, according to state broadcaster CCTV, with rescuers also in contact with more than 200 hikers remaining who “will gradually arrive at the rendezvous point.”

Local news outlets had initially reported that nearly 1,000 people had been affected by the blizzard. Local rescue officials were not immediately available for comment on the discrepancy in numbers.

No casualties were reported, according to local media.

Trekkers leaving their campsite as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummeled the Himalayas on Sunday.Geshuang Chen / via Reuters“About one-third into the trek, it began to rain and the rain kept getting heavier,” Chen Geshuang, a 28-year-old astrophotographer who began climbing Saturday afternoon but decided to retreat Sunday, told NBC News in an online video interview.