Six Indian Tourists Rescued from Heavy Snowfall in Nepals Dolpa District

Dolpa, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : Six Indian tourists stranded by heavy snowfall in Dolpa, a remote district in western Nepal, were rescued by helicopter on Monday morning. The rescue operation was confirmed by a senior police officer from the area.

The tourists had been out of contact since October 31 due to the severe weather conditions. Anil Raj Giri, the Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Dolpa District Police Office, reported that a helicopter was dispatched once their location was determined, bringing them safely to the district headquarters in Dunai. All six individuals were reported to be in good health following their ordeal.

The group had been trekking from Dho Tarap towards Shey Phoksundo Lake, a popular tourist destination, when they encountered the heavy snowfall. Local authorities began the rescue mission after receiving reports of the tourists being trapped on October 31. However, adverse weather and difficulties in arranging helicopter services delayed the operation.

Giri noted that the tourists had traveled to Upper Dolpa without the necessary administrative permits. The upper part of the district is a restricted area, requiring foreign visitors to obtain trekking permits from the Department of Immigration.

The inclement weather was attributed to Cyclone Arnab in the Bay of Bengal. In light of this, local authorities had warned tourists against traveling to the area. On October 27, the Nepalese Department of Immigration suspended the issuance of trekking permits for high-altitude and Himalayan regions from October 29 to 31, citing risks of heavy snowfall, blizzards, and avalanches.

This decision followed a warning from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, advising tourists to avoid these areas for three days. The authority cautioned that transportation services and daily life could be significantly affected during this period and urged people to refrain from non-essential travel.