Security forces rescue 72 tourists stranded by snowfall at Annapurna Base Camp
MYAGDI: Security forces have rescued 72 tourists, including 17 foreigners, who were stranded by heavy snowfall at Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi district.
Security personnel were mobilised from Myagdi after the Hidden Valley along the Dhaulagiri circuit trek, which connects Myagdi to Mustang, was covered with snow.
As of Thursday morning, all 72 tourists were rescued with the help of the Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and local residents. The trekking route has remained blanketed by snow since Monday night. APF Deputy Superintendent of Police Leela Bahadur Bhujel confirmed the rescued tourists have been brought down safely to Humkhola.
Twenty tourists who had lost their way were rescued using cables. Snow along the Maurice Herzog route was cleared to facilitate their descent.
The base camp, situated at an altitude of 4,190 metres above sea level, was affected by rain, snowfall and bad weather, forcing tourists to halt their journey. Visitors staying in hotels at Humkhola, Phutphute, Sadhikharka, Gufaphant, Bhusket Mela and Panchakunda were safely evacuated with the assistance of security forces.
The weather in these areas remained largely clear throughout Wednesday following the snowfall, but snowfall resumed on Thursday morning.
Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp prohibited until tomorrow
Myagdi’s Chief District Officer, Badri Prasad Tiwari, said visits to Annapurna Base Camp are prohibited from Monday to Friday, 31 October, after an assessment of potential risks due to snowfall and rain.
The Myagdi District Administration Office and Annapurna Rural Municipality have issued a public notice appealing to people not to visit areas such as Khopra Lek, Ghorepani, Poon Hill and Moharedanda and to take precautions.
Meanwhile, a security team has been deployed to rescue three British female tourists and 12 Nepali guides and porters who encountered problems in the Hidden Valley at an altitude of 5,100 metres while travelling via the Dhaulagiri base camp in Dhaulagiri‑4, Myagdi, to Marpha in Gharapjhong Rural Municipality‑2, Mustang.
The team, comprising trained personnel from the Nepali Army, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Police, set off from Jomsom on Wednesday for the rescue and reached Alubari in Marpha at an altitude of 3,700 metres on Thursday morning, Bishnu Prasad Bhushal, Chief District Officer of Mustang, said.
“We have received information that the group of tourists has reached Dhampul Lek from Hidden Valley. The security team is making their way towards the Lek. If the weather permits, we expect the security personnel and tourists to meet by the afternoon today,” he said.
Fifteen trained security personnel have been deployed for the rescue under the command of Major Prashant Bishta from the Nepali Army’s High Altitude Training Academy in Jomsom.
By RSS
