Nepalese teams have rescued 34 more trekkers and guides stranded in the Himalayas since a snowstorm struck five days ago.
They also found 12 more bodies buried in the highly popular Annapurna Circuit trekking route hit by the storm, with the total number of those confirmed or feared dead put at 40.
They include 17 Nepalese, 10 Germans, five Swedes and two Australians, Bhattarai told AFP, without giving details of their injuries or condition.
Rescuers pressed on with their search for bodies that they have seen from the air but have so far been unable to retrieve, said the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal, an industry group.
Three bodies were found early this morning and another nine -- all Nepalese support staff for trekkers -- late in the day on different sections of the circuit.
Searchers were taking advantage of good weather but efforts were being hampered by the fact that snow was turning to ice, making it difficult to free trapped bodies.
Searches will resume tomorrow to retrieve more bodies along with any more survivors, he said.
Nepal has pledged to set up a weather warning system after the snowstorm caught trekkers unaware as they heading to an exposed high mountain pass on the circuit.
Police have said 483 trekkers, guides and others have been rescued since operations started on Wednesday, including 292 foreigners.
