MYAGDI, Oct 30: Security personnel have rescued 72 tourists including 17 foreigners, who were stranded at Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi due to continuous snowfall.
The tourists were trapped after heavy snow blocked trekking routes along the Dhaulagiri Circuit trail, known as the “Hidden Valley,” which connects Myagdi and Mustang districts. A rescue team was deployed from Mustang to assist those stuck in the area.
The group had been unable to return after rain and snowfall since Monday night buried the trekking paths. A rescue team led by Armed Police Inspector Binod Paudel including seven armed police personnel, three Nepal Police personnel and local rescuer Indra Singh Sherchan carried out the operation.
New route to reach Annapurna Base Camp
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Lil Bahadur Bhujel, head of the Armed Police Force’s Galeshwar base, said all 72 tourists including 17 foreigners were safely brought down to Humkhola on Thursday morning. “Twenty people who lost their way in the snow were rescued with the help of ropes,” DSP Bhujel said, “The team cleared the snow-blocked trails and brought everyone to safety.”
All tourists from Annapurna Base Camp were guided to safe locations via the Maurice Herzog Trail. The tourists, stranded at an altitude of 4,190 meters, had stayed in local lodges as snowfall and poor weather made travel impossible.
Tourists staying in Humkhola, Phutfute, Sadhikharka, Gufafaat, Bhusket Mela, and Panchakunda hotels were assisted back by security personnel. Although the weather cleared on Wednesday after continuous snowfall on Tuesday, snow began falling again Thursday morning.
Chief District Officer of Myagdi Badri Prasad Tiwari said the administration had restricted treks to Annapurna Base Camp until October 31 due to safety concerns from ongoing snowfall and potential risks.
Similarly, a separate rescue team has been mobilized to assist three British women and 12 Nepali guides and porters stranded in the “Hidden Valley” area at 5,100 meters while trekking from Dhaulagiri Base Camp in Myagdi’s Mudi to Marpha in Mustang.
According to Mustang’s Chief District Officer Bishnu Prasad Bhusal, the joint rescue team of Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police led by Major Prashant Bista from the Nepal Army’s High Mountain Training School in Jomsom reached Alubari in Marpha (3,700 meters) on Thursday morning.
“We’ve received reports that the group has reached Dhanphul Lek from Hidden Valley,” Bhusal said, “If weather conditions remain favorable, the rescuers and trekkers are expected to meet by afternoon.”
RSS
