Security forces have rescued 72 tourists, including 17 foreigners, who were stranded due to heavy snowfall at the Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi.
Security personnel were mobilized from Myagdi to assist in the rescue of tourists facing difficulties 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, including foreigners, were rescued with the help of the Armed Police Force, civil police, and local residents. The trekking route has remained blanketed by snow since Monday night. APF Deputy Superintendent of Police Leela Bahadur Bhujel confirmed that the rescued tourists have been brought down safely to Humkhola.
Twenty tourists who had lost their way were rescued with the help of cables. Snow along the Maurice Herzog route was cleared to facilitate their descent.
The base camp, situated at an altitude of 4,190 meters 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 till tomorrow
Chief District Officer of Myagdi, Badri Prasad Tiwari, said that visits to the Annapurna Base Camp have been prohibited from Monday to Friday (Oct 31) after an assessment of potential risks due to snowfall and rain.
The District Administration Office and the Annapurna Rural Municipality have issued public notice appealing people not to visit areas such as Khopra Lek, Ghodepani, Pun Hill, and Moharedada and to adopt precaution.
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 above sea level while travelling via the base camp of Dhaulagiri in Dhawalagiri-4, Myagdi, to Marpha in Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-2, Mustang.
The team comprising the trained personnel of the Nepali Army, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Police, which set off from Jomsom on Wednesday for the rescue, reached Alubari in Marpha at an altitude of 3,700 metres above sea level on Thursday morning, said Bishnu Prasad Bhushal, Chief District Officer of Mustang.
“We have received information that the group of tourists has reached Dhampul Lek (mountain pass) 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.”
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.
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