KATHMANDU: At Phak Tanglung Rural Municipality, Taplejung, on the 7,710-meter-high Januu Himal, a US national named Michael Gardner vanished during his ascent. Detective Superintendent Rohit Kumar Sharma of the Taplejung District Police Office states that Gardner's disappearance was reported not long after he started his ascent.

Gardner, who holds the US passport numbered 664556651, was climbing Jannu Himal with the assistance of Grand Himalaya Treks & Expedition Pvt Ltd. Before starting his expedition on October 7, he had stayed at the Sherpa Guest House in Ghunsa on October 6.

Gardner has not been seen since starting his climbing adventure, according to Inspector Sharma. His current whereabouts are unknown despite police personnel's continuous search attempts.

The authorities are intensively searching the region in an effort to find Gardner and make sure he is safe given the difficult circumstances on the mountain.