The Armed Police Force (APF) successfully rescued eleven domestic tourists who had been stranded at the Tilicho Base Camp in Manang for five days due to heavy snowfall and rain.
According to APF Deputy Spokesperson DSP Shailendra Thapa, the rescue was carried out safely by the Mountain Rescue Team deployed from the APF's Mountain Rescue Training School (MRTS). The rescue operation took nine hours to complete.
Among the rescued tourists were an individual with a leg injury, a nine-year-old boy, a sick woman, and others who were in a generally stable condition. However, DSP Thapa shared that all individuals had low oxygen levels.
The rescue was successfully completed after a nine-hour effort along a challenging route that was narrow, steep, and covered with two feet of frozen snow.
The risky operation was conducted under the command of SP Top Bahadur Dangi, leading a medical and mountain rescue team from the MRTS. The team utilized specialized mountain rescue gear and equipment to complete the mission.
The tourists are reported to be in stable condition and have been moved to a safe location.
DSP Thapa also mentioned that the MRTS had conducted its first 'High Altitude Search and Rescue Training' of the current fiscal year. As part of this training, 39 participants, including instructors and trainees from the school, successfully scaled Mt Chulu Far East (6,038 meters) in early October.
The APF stated that this successful rescue and the preceding training have enhanced the capacity of the Armed Police Force's Mountain Rescue unit, enabling them to play a more effective role in future high-altitude incidents. The APF further announced that it will continue such training and drills to ensure the safety of tourists in high-Himalayan areas.
According to Deputy Spokesperson Thapa, the APF’s experience with such incidents in the Himalayan region highlights the importance of necessary preparedness to counter seasonal risks in Nepal's tourism sector.
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