The army says it has flown its team by to Dolpa district in western Nepal but it will take them a day’s trek to reach the area.

A police team which has reached there says 16 bodies have been recovered.

The victims were collecting a rare fungus, cordyceps, which is sold in China as an aphrodisiac.

No-one knows exactly how many people are missing but the army says it is looking for three groups of more than a 100 people each.

Rare fungus

Local press reports put the total figure at more than 1,000.

A local police unit which has reached the area has found 16 bodies buried in the snow.

Reports say they had set up camps in Dolpa while collecting the rare and valuable fungus which is known locally as and is nicknamed the viagra.

It is a parasite that grows on caterpillars before taking over and then killing the creatures.

It is only found in the highlands of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet.

It is used in Chinese medicine as an aphrodisiac and also to treat cancer, fatigue, asthma and a range of other .

Thousands of Nepali villagers move to the highlands every May and June to harvest the fungus.

A kilogram can be sold for more than $3,000.