Six Indian Tourists Rescued by Helicopter After Heavy Snowfall Strands Them in Nepal
KATHMANDU–Six Indian tourists stranded by heavy snowfall in Nepal’s remote Dolpa district were safely rescued by helicopter Monday morning after losing contact with authorities for two days, police officials said.
The tourists had been stranded in the mountainous Upper Dolpa region of western Nepal since October 31, when severe weather disrupted their trek and prevented them from communicating with authorities.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Raj Giri, chief of the District Police Office in Dolpa, confirmed that all six tourists were located and evacuated to Dunai, the district headquarters.
“A helicopter was deployed after they were located, and they were brought to the district headquarters, Dunai,” Giri said.
He confirmed that all six tourists were in normal health following the rescue.
The group was evacuated from the Danigadh area of Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality, where heavy snowfall had left them stranded while trekking from Dho Tarap toward Shey-Phoksundo Lake, a popular destination known for its remote Himalayan landscapes.
Authorities began organizing a rescue operation after receiving information about the missing tourists on October 31. However, unfavorable weather conditions and difficulties securing a helicopter delayed the evacuation, according to local media reports citing officials.
Giri said the tourists had entered Upper Dolpa without obtaining the administrative permits required for foreign visitors traveling through restricted areas.
Nepal’s Department of Immigration oversees the issuance of trekking permits for foreign nationals visiting designated restricted regions, including parts of Upper Dolpa.
Local authorities had also warned the tourists against entering the area because of deteriorating weather conditions associated with Cyclone Arnab in the Bay of Bengal, Giri said.
The rescue followed several days of severe weather warnings issued by Nepalese authorities as the country faced heightened risks of snowfall, snowstorms and avalanches in its mountainous regions.
On October 27, Nepal’s Department of Immigration announced a temporary suspension of trekking permit issuance for restricted areas in high-altitude and Himalayan regions from October 29 through October 31.
The suspension came in response to warnings from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, which urged tourists to avoid traveling to vulnerable mountain regions during the three-day period.
The agency also warned that severe weather could disrupt road transportation, aviation services and daily activities in affected areas.
Tourists and residents were advised to exercise caution and postpone nonessential travel until weather conditions improved.
Upper Dolpa, one of Nepal’s most isolated Himalayan regions, attracts trekkers seeking remote mountain trails and destinations such as Shey-Phoksundo Lake. However, its high elevation, difficult terrain and limited transportation infrastructure can complicate emergency rescue operations during severe weather. (Source: IANS)
