- Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Manang, Oct 29: Normal life in Manang has been largely affected following a recent heavy snowfall in the district.
Although security personnel have been making continuous efforts since this morning to rescue those stranded due to the snow, the lack of vehicles has made the rescue operations challenging.
According to Chief District Officer Nawa Raj Poudyal, rescue operations have already begun, but many of the available vehicles have also been trapped in the snow. There is a shortage of additional vehicles to assist with the rescue efforts.
Visitors who were stranded at the Tilicho Lake Base Camp have been rescued, and additional arrangements have been made at Khangar to accommodate them. Snow debris along a 25-kilometer stretch of roadway has been cleared to facilitate movement.
Some tourists have been accommodated in homestays, while others have been placed in private shelters. According to the CDO, all foreign tourists are safe so far.
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Continuous snowfall: 15 tourists stranded in Hidden Valley
Myagdi, Oct 29: Fifteen tourists, including foreign and domestic, have been stranded due to the continuous snowfall in the Hidden Valley under the round-Dhaulagiri trekking route from Myagdi to Mustang via the foot of the Dhaulagiri Mountain.
Among them, three are British women and twelve domestic tourists. They were stranded in the valley after continuous snowfall from Monday night covered the trekking route while travelling from Mudi, Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality-4 in Myagdi via the Italian base camp to Marpha, Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-2 in Mustang.
They, who are living in the Hidden Valley located at an altitude of 5,100 metres above sea level between Dhaulagiri and Sita Himal, are safe, according to Myagdi’s Chief District Officer Badri Prasad Tiwari.
“British tourists who went trekking from the Secret Himalaya Trek and Expedition Travel Agency in Kathmandu requested for arrangements for a helicopter rescue on Tuesday evening as walking was difficult. They were in contact until Wednesday morning and are safe,” CDO Tiwari said.
Although efforts were made to send a rescue teams from the district administration offices and security bodies from Myagdi and Mustang, there was problem deploying the teams due to the incessant snowfall.
After it stops snowing and the weather clears, the valley can be reached by land and air. There are no hotels or houses where the tourists are camping.
According to Binaya Lama, manager of Secret Himalaya Trek and Expedition, the three British trekkers Mary Rippe, Caroline Wilson and Emily Cats are in Hidden Valley.
Lama said that the trekking guides have requested via satellite phone for rescue. If the snowfall stops and the weather improves, helicopter sortie can be conducted to the area, and only once the snow melts and the path is visible, can they move towards a safe place. There is no access to mobile and internet services there. —
Rescue efforts on for three British and 12 domestic tourists stranded in Hidden Valley
Rescue efforts are underway for 12 domestic tourists and three British women who are stranded due to heavy snowfall in Hidden Valley, Mustang. The RSS had carried news about this incident earlier today.
Spokesperson of the Nepali Army, Rajaram Basnet, said that efforts are underway to airlift 12 domestic tourists and three British women stranded in Hidden Valley, adding that continuous snowfall and bad weather have caused some problems in the rescue bid.
“The tourists are in normal (health) condition, and coordination with the travel company for rescue is underway,” he said.
The 15 tourists were stranded in the valley after continuous snowfall from Monday night covered the trekking route while travelling from Mudi, Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality-4 in Myagdi via the Italian base camp to Marpha, Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-2 in Mustang.
Meanwhile, a team of security personnel have rescued around 1,500 tourists trapped in the upper region of Manang due to continuous snowfall.
According to the Army spokesperson Basnet, 1,500 people, including 200 foreign tourists stranded in various places of Tilicho, Khangsar, Pisang, Upper Manang and Humde areas of Manang, have been rescued.
The rescue team deployed from the Nepali Army’s New Bhairavidal Company in Manang, in collaboration with the local administration, people’s representatives, the Armed Police Force Nepal, and Nepal Police, had brought the tourists to a safe location.
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APF reaches Muktinath Temple to provide medical care to tourists
The Armed Police Force (APF) today reached the Muktinath Temple premises to provide medical care to domestic tourists affected by the recent heavy snowfall in Mustang.
The APF set up a health camp at the temple entrance in the morning and conducted health check-ups for 250 visitors.
Most of the visitors reported headaches, nausea, vomiting, and breathing difficulties following the snowfall and a sudden drop in temperature.
Meanwhile, the APF also cleared snow along the route to the temple, facilitating the movement of tourists. —
Lobuche chopper crash: Pilot unhurt, tailfin damaged
An atmosphere of apprehension descended at Lobuche that lies in the heart of Sagarmatha this morning.
A helicopter belonging to Altitude Air suddenly skidded and crashed at the landing site at Lobuche on the base of snow-covered Mount Everest. However, luck was on their side, and there were no human casualties in the accident.
At 8:15 this morning, the chopper with the call sign ‘Alpha Mike Sierra’ had taken off from Lukla (4,940 metres) towards Lobuche. The helicopter flew there to rescue some tourists who were stranded following heavy snowfall on Tuesday night.
But during the landing at Lobuche helipad, the ice on the surface made the runway slippery, and the tail of the helicopter hit the ground.
“During the landing, the helicopter slipped and its tail part was damaged, but pilot Bibek Khadka is safe, this is good news,” said Chief District Officer Lila Kumari KC Pandey.
According to her, the crashed helicopter is still at the site. Due to heavy snow and adverse weather, it is not possible to reach Lobuche, Chief District Officer Pandey added.
“The helicopter is somewhat stuck in the snow, so it is not possible to fly it,” she said.
Pilot Khadka was the only person on board the helicopter at the time of the accident. The Solukhumbu District Administration Office stated that Khadka was rescued by another helicopter and brought to Lukla.
“We had arranged for immediate rescue, and it is a great relief that the pilot is safe,” said District Police Chief, Deputy Superintendent of Police Manojit Kunwar.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, all flights by helicopters and planes have been halted in the Khumbu region since this morning. It has been reported that no flights are possible until the weather improves.
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