Kathmandu (Rajeev Sharma): Six Indian tourists, including two women, have been stranded in Nepal’s Shey-Phoksundo National Park area since Saturday afternoon after heavy snowfall cut off access to the region. Rescue efforts were suspended until Monday after a Nepali Army helicopter failed to land due to adverse weather conditions, officials said on Sunday.
The group had travelled to the Dho area in Ward No. 8 of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality, around 300 km northwest of Kathmandu. The area has been covered in heavy snow, Dolpa Chief District Officer (CDO) Junu Dhakal said.
Authorities have located the area where the tourists are believed to be stranded. However, security personnel have been unable to establish communication with them because of the snow-covered terrain.
Why Were Rescue Efforts Delayed?
According to Police Inspector Binaya Singh, spokesperson for the District Police Office in Dolpa, a Nepali Army helicopter reached the area on Sunday but had to return without landing because of unfavourable weather.
The rescue operation had already faced a delay after a technical problem developed in an Army helicopter stationed at Surkhet, Nepal’s Onlinekhabar news portal reported.
The local administration is now planning to arrange a helicopter from private airline Simrik Air on Monday to evacuate the tourists.
Security personnel have been mobilised since Sunday morning after the district authorities received information about the group. Dhakal said officials were hopeful of rescuing them once weather conditions allowed an aircraft to reach the location.
Who Are The Six Indian Tourists Stranded In Nepal?
The Dolpa district administration has identified the six tourists as:
- Moumita Halder
- Piyali Koley
- Jajla Trivedi Kumar
- Aditya Singha
- Diplina Bishwas
- Rajesh De
According to Dhakal, the tourists entered the area despite warnings from security personnel and their Nepali guide about the heavy snowfall. They reportedly left the guide and continued towards the lake area.
The guide contacted the Dolpa District Administration Office on Saturday evening, expressing concern that the tourists might have become stranded in the snow. Communication with the group was completely disrupted by Sunday morning.
Dhakal clarified that authorities could not describe the tourists as missing because their location had already been identified.
Where Are The Tourists Stranded?
The group is stranded in the Dho area of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality, near Shey Phoksundo Lake in Nepal’s Dolpa district.
Located at an altitude of around 3,600 metres, Shey Phoksundo Lake is Nepal’s deepest lake, with an estimated depth of 145 metres. The region’s high altitude and heavy snowfall can make rescue operations difficult, particularly when poor visibility prevents helicopters from landing.
Such incidents have occurred in Nepal’s Himalayan regions before. In October 2025, 15 trekkers, including three British women, were rescued after being trapped by heavy snow in Mustang’s Hidden Valley. Two Nepali tourists were also rescued by helicopter in November last year after getting stranded in snow near the Mustang-Dolpa border.
