Myagdi, Oct 30: Security personnel have successfully rescued 72 tourists, including 17 foreigners, who were stranded due to heavy snowfall at the Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi district.
According to authorities, security forces were mobilized from Myagdi to assist in the rescue operation after the Hidden Valley along the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek — which connects Myagdi to Mustang — was blanketed by snow.
By Thursday morning, all 72 stranded tourists had been safely brought down to Humkhola with the support of the Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal Police, and local residents, APF Deputy Superintendent of Police Leela Bahadur Bhujel confirmed.
Twenty tourists who had lost their way were rescued with the help of cables after snow was cleared along the Maurice Herzog route to facilitate their descent.
The Annapurna Base Camp, located at an altitude of 4,190 meters above sea level, experienced continuous rain and snowfall since Monday night, forcing trekkers to halt their journey. Tourists staying at Humkhola, Phutphute, Sadhikharka, Gufaphant, Bhusket Mela, and Panchakunda were also evacuated safely.
Although the weather improved on Wednesday, snowfall resumed Thursday morning.
Trekking Prohibited Until Friday
Chief District Officer of Myagdi, Badri Prasad Tiwari, said that trekking to the Annapurna Base Camp has been suspended from Monday until Friday (Oct 31) following an assessment of potential risks due to the ongoing snowfall and rainfall.
The District Administration Office and Annapurna Rural Municipality have jointly issued a public notice urging people to avoid visiting Khopra Lek, Ghodepani, Pun Hill, and Moharedanda, and to take necessary precautions.
Rescue Operation in Hidden Valley
Meanwhile, a joint security team has been deployed to rescue three British female tourists and 12 Nepali guides and porters who encountered difficulties in the Hidden Valley area — situated at an altitude of 5,100 meters — while traveling via the Dhaulagiri Base Camp towards Marpha in Mustang.
The rescue team, comprising trained personnel from the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police, departed from Jomsom on Wednesday and reached Alubari in Marpha (3,700 meters) by Thursday morning, according to Bishnu Prasad Bhushal, Chief District Officer of Mustang.
“We have received information that the group has reached Dhampul Lek from Hidden Valley. The rescue team is making its way toward the Lek, and if the weather remains favorable, both teams are expected to meet by this afternoon,” Bhushal said.
Fifteen trained security personnel, led by Major Prashant Bishta from the Nepali Army’s High Altitude Training Academy in Jomsom, are participating in the ongoing rescue operation. #annapurna #nepal #tourist #snowfall
