Heavy snowfall in Nepal: Six Indian tourists go missing during trek

Six Indian tourists, including two women and four men, have gone missing during a trek to Nepal’s Shey-Phoksundo Lake, the deepest lake in the country, following heavy snowfall in the Himalayan region, officials confirmed to news agency ANI.The tourists were travelling from Ward Nos. 4 and 8 of Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality towards the lake when they went missing. They were last reported to be in the Numla Pass and Bagla Pass areas between Ward Nos. 4 and 8 of Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality.Local guides suspect that the tourists may have become stranded in the mountains following heavy snowfall, reportedly influenced by Cyclone Arnab developing over the Bay of Bengal.According to local officials, the group continued its journey despite warnings from residents about difficult weather and dangerous conditions along the mountain passes. They are believed to have become trapped in the snow while returning from the high-altitude area.Dolpa chief district officer Junu Hamal confirmed that the tourists were stranded while returning from Dho towards Phoksundo Lake.“The tourists became stranded while returning from Dho towards Phoksundo Lake,” Hamal said, adding that locals had warned them about the difficult weather and mountain conditions before they proceeded.Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality Chairman Dhawa Samduk Gurung said the lack of mobile phone connectivity in the mountain passes had made it difficult to establish contact with the missing tourists.“Mobile phone communication is unavailable in the mountain passes between Wards 4 and 8, making it difficult to obtain information about the tourists’ whereabouts and current condition,” Gurung said.

Search and rescue ops under way

Authorities have initiated efforts to trace the missing tourists, but heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions have hampered search and rescue operations in the high-altitude region.Dolpa deputy superintendent of police Anil Raj Giri said the six Indian tourists remained uncontactable as per the latest information.“Six Indian tourists remain out of contact, according to the latest information,” Giri said.He added that authorities had requested the concerned agency to arrange a helicopter to assist in search and rescue operations.A team of the Nepal army has also been deployed to locate the tourists and help with the rescue efforts.The absence of mobile connectivity, thick snow and difficult terrain have made it challenging for rescue teams to establish the group’s exact location and assess their condition.

Over 240 tourists in Upper Dolpa

According to the District Administration Office, 244 tourists have reached Upper Dolpa. They include 149 Nepali nationals, 44 tourists from SAARC countries and 51 visitors from other foreign countries.Amid the worsening weather conditions, the district administration has urged tourists to avoid risky areas and remain in safe locations.Tourist arrivals in the Shey-Phoksundo Lake region have increased in recent years. Official data show that 4,882 tourists visited Phoksundo Lake during the first 11 months of the fiscal year 2082/83.