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Nepal avalanche: Indian among 3 more dead
With recovery of three more bodies including that of an Indian on Friday, the death toll in avalanches and blizzards that hit Nepal this week have gone up to 32.
With recovery of three more bodies including that of an Indian on Friday, the death toll in avalanches and blizzards that hit Nepal this week have gone up to 32.
The bodies of Anup Roy Chaudhary from West Bengal, Santa Bahadur Tamang from Nepal and another unidentified person were recovered from near the Thorong La Pass in Mustang district.
Efforts to rescue tourists and locals missing in avalanches and snowstorms in Nepal continued for the fourth day on Friday. Reports say more than 80 people are still untraced.
Forty seven persons including foreign tourists who were stranded in Manang and Mustang districts bordering China were rescued till early afternoon taking the total number of rescued to over 300.
“We have rescued 29 persons. The remains of four persons have been sent to Kathmandu,” informed Baburam Bhandari, chief district officer of Mustang.
In nearby Manang 18 persons were rescued till 2 pm on Friday. Ten persons including three Indians and four Canadians are still missing and chances of finding them alive are getting slimmer.
“Due to remoteness of the area and inclement weather we haven’t been able to recover any bodies yet. We are coordinating with army personnel to locate the missing persons,” said Devendra Lamichane, chief district officer of Manang.
The disaster caused by cyclone Hudhud caught hundreds of foreign trekkers and local residents and guides by surprise in the popular trekking area.
October is an ideal time for trekking in the Annapurna Circuit and thousands of tourists go there each year.
Considered one of the best trekking routes in the world, the trek within Annapurna mountain range reaches a height of 5,400 meters at Thorung La Pass---the place where many trekkers were trapped.
Meanwhile authorities in neighbouring Dolpa denied news reports that 100 persons including 60 foreigners were missing in the district.
“There is no official confirmation of anyone missing or dead in Dolpa. We managed to get in touch with 15 Swedish trekkers in Upper Dolpa who were not able to communicate with their trekking agencies. All of them are safe,” informed Krishna Khanal, chief district officer of Dolpa.
