October 11, 2022: At least 700 domestic and foreign tourists who went on a trek have been stranded in the Himalayas including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu due to heavy rains and landslides.

According to Vinod Sapkota, general secretary of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), at least 700 foreigners and Nepalis who went on a trek in Jomsom, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Annapurna areas were stranded due to landslides on roads and footpaths due to rain. According to TAAN, about 2,800 trekking permit cards (TIMS cards) were issued in the month of September.

Apart from TAAN, the Tourism Board also issues TIMS cards. The number of Tims cards sold by the tourism board is not disclosed. According to him, 2000 tourists and Nepalese guides going to Lukla and Khumbu region were stranded in Ramechhap. At least 300 of them returned to Kathmandu on Sunday.

Meanwhile, TAAN reported that at least 120 people were rescued from Manaslu by helicopter and brought to Kathmandu on Sunday. He said that the rescued tourists and guides paid the helicopter fee personally.

According to Nilhari Bastola, president of TAAN, most of those stranded due to the rains and landslides this time are French citizens. According to him, 4 citizens of the Netherlands and 7 Nepalis are missing in Dhorpatan.

One Korean trekker and one Nepalese guide is still missing in the Dhaulagiri region.

NPL

News source: Kantipur