KATHMANDU, Nov 1: Rescue operations are underway to evacuate six Indian tourists, including two women, who have been stranded in Nepal’s Shey-Phoksundo National Park following heavy snowfall, officials said on Sunday.
The group became stranded in the Dho area of Ward No. 8 of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality in Dolpa district on Saturday afternoon after intense snowfall blanketed the region.
Dolpa Chief District Officer Junu Dhakal said authorities had identified the location of the stranded tourists and were preparing to evacuate them with the assistance of an Army helicopter.
“We have located the area where they are stranded, and an Army helicopter is arriving to rescue them. We hope to rescue them soon,” Dhakal told PTI.
According to officials, the tourists proceeded towards the lake despite warnings from security personnel and their Nepali guide about the worsening weather conditions. They reportedly left the guide behind and continued towards the lake area as snowfall intensified.
The guide subsequently approached the Dolpa District Administration Office on Saturday evening, expressing concern that the tourists might have been trapped by the heavy snowfall.
Communication with the group was lost on Saturday night and remained disrupted on Sunday morning, prompting authorities to step up efforts to locate and rescue them.
However, Dhakal clarified that the tourists should not be considered missing, as their location had already been identified by the rescue teams.
The stranded tourists have been identified as Moumita Halder, Piyali Koley, Jajla Trivedi Kumar, Aditya Singha, Diplina Bishwas and Rajesh De, according to an official statement released by the Dolpa District Administration Office.
Security personnel are being deployed to support the operation, while an Army helicopter is expected to reach the area to facilitate their evacuation.
The tourists were visiting the region around Shey Phoksundo Lake, situated at an altitude of approximately 3,600 metres above sea level. The lake, located within Shey Phoksundo National Park, is recognised as Nepal’s deepest lake, with an estimated depth of 145 metres.
The difficult terrain, high altitude and severe weather conditions have made the rescue operation challenging. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and working to bring all six tourists to safety.