Hundreds remain trapped on Mount Everest after 'extreme' conditions hampered a huge rescue mission - with survivors revealing they feared being buried alive in a freak snow storm.Footage shows how rescuers are battling brutal weather on the Tibetan side of the mountain after a blizzard came in, burying campsites under thick snow and forcing terrified climbers to dig themselves out.Chinese authorities said around 350 people have now been led to safety, but more than 200 remain stuck high in the Everest Scenic Area. Local villagers have joined rescue crews to clear blocked trails and reach those trapped more than 16,000ft up.The disaster struck during China's 'Golden Week' holiday, when thousands travel to the Himalayas for sightseeing and trekking. What began as a scenic hike quickly descended into chaos when a snowstorm arrived on Friday and intensified through Saturday.One trekker said on Xiaohongshu: 'I looked up in the middle of the night and saw that the snow had nearly covered the top. It was the first time I truly felt the fear of being buried alive.' Another Chinese trekker, Dong Shuchang, said: 'It was the most extreme weather I've ever faced in all my hiking experiences, without question.' He added on Weibo that there was a 'violent convective snowstorm on the eastern slope' of Everest. People's tents are said to have been crushed, with some climbers suffering from hypothermia due to the freezing conditions. State outlet Jimu News said contact had been made with those still trapped. Tibetan firefighters carry a rescued trekker to safety. What began as a scenic hike quickly descended into chaos when snow started falling late on Friday and intensified through Saturday A screen capture from video shows trekkers leaving their campsite, as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummeled the HimalayasThe major rescue operation began earlier on Sunday on Tibet's eastern slope of Mount Everest.Snow had started falling heavily on Friday evening and continued throughout Saturday. One trekker said they had been 'too scared to sleep' and had to clear snow every 90 minutes. The hellish weather forced ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area to be suspended from late Saturday, according to the local Tingri County Tourism Company.'It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk,' said Chen Geshuang, who was part of an 18-strong trekking team who made it to Qudang.'The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly.'The remaining trekkers will arrive in Qudang in stages under the guidance and assistance of rescuers organised by the local government. Chen's party descended from the mountains on Sunday and was greeted by villagers after enduring a harrowing evening of heavy snowfall combined with thunder and lightning. With tears in her eyes, Chen accepted their offers of sweet tea and the promise of warmth, she said.'Back in the village, we had a meal and were finally warm.'One witness is reported as saying: 'Many people's tents have been crushed, the camp has more than a metre of snow, and all the passageways down the mountain have been blocked.' Visitors to the remote valley of Karma, which leads to the eastern Kangshung face of Everest, were in the hundreds this week, taking advantage of an eight-day National Day holiday in China. A huge rescue operation was launched after the blizzard. Officials say 350 trekkers have been brought to safety but more than 200 remain Tibetan rescuers have been battling brutal weather conditions to rescue more than 200 trekkers still trapped on Mount Everest A massive snowstorm has left nearly 1,000 people trapped on Mount Everest (pictured) as rescuers race to save the hikersOctober is normally one of the best times to visit Everest, with clear skies and mild temperatures, but this year’s storm caught even the most experienced guides off guard.Meanwhile, across the border in Nepal yesterday, landslides, a lightning strike, and flooding triggered by severe rainfall killed at least 44 people.Those killed included at least 37 people in the eastern mountain district of Illam, where whole villages were swept away by landslides, Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said. Several other people are still missing.Heavy rainfall was reported since Friday in the district, which borders India and is known for growing tea.Six people in the same family were killed when a landslide crushed their home while they slept, Illam's assistant administrative officer Bholanath Guragai said.Rainfall was hampering efforts to reach the villages and many roads were swept away or blocked by the landslides.The government said helicopters were also evacuating people needing medical evacuations, and ground troops were helping move people to safer areas.One more person was killed in a landslide in a neighbouring district.Nepal's government issued a severe rainfall warning in the eastern and central parts of the country from Saturday to Monday, while shutting down major highways. All domestic flights were grounded on Saturday by aviation authorities because of heavy rainfall and poor visibility, but were reopened on Sunday.The major highways connecting the capital, Kathmandu, with other areas were closed by the authorities as some parts were blocked by landslides and others were shut as a precautionary measure.By Sunday evening, one route was partially opened for traffic. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said on social platform X that the loss of lives and damage caused by heavy rains in Nepal are distressing.'We stand with the people and Government of Nepal in this difficult time,' he said. 'As a friendly neighbor and first responder, India remains committed to providing any assistance that may be required.'