World
Six Indian Tourists Missing After Trek to Nepal’s Deepest Lake Amid Heavy Snow
Six Indian tourists—two women and four men—went missing while trekking to Nepal’s Shey‑Phoksundo Lake, the country’s deepest lake, after heavy snowfall in the Himalayan region, officials told ANI. The group was traveling from Ward Nos. 4 and 8 of Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality toward the lake when they were last seen in the Numla Pass and Bagla Pass areas between Ward Nos. 4 and 8 of Shey‑Phoksundo Rural Municipality. Local guides suspect the tourists may have become stranded in the mountains following the heavy snowfall, which was reportedly influenced by Cyclone Arnab developing over the Bay of Bengal. Local officials said the group continued its journey despite warnings from residents about difficult weather and dangerous conditions along the mountain passes. They are believed to have become trapped in the snow while returning from the high‑altitude area. Dolpa chief district officer Junu Hamal confirmed that the tourists were stranded while returning from Dho toward Phoksundo Lake. “The tourists became stranded while returning from Dho toward Phoksundo Lake,” Hamal said, adding that locals had warned them about the difficult weather and mountain conditions before they proceeded. Shey‑Phoksundo Rural Municipality Chairman Dhawa Samduk Gurung said the lack of mobile phone connectivity in the mountain passes made it difficult to establish contact with the missing tourists. “Mobile phone communication is unavailable in the mountain passes between Wards 4 and 8, making it difficult to obtain information about the tourists’ whereabouts and current condition,” Gurung said. Authorities have initiated search and rescue operations, but heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions have hampered efforts in the high‑altitude region. Dolpa deputy superintendent of police Anil Raj Giri said the six Indian tourists remained uncontactable as per the latest information. “Six Indian tourists remain out of contact, according to the latest information,” Giri said. He added that authorities had requested the concerned agency to arrange a helicopter to assist in search and rescue operations. A team of the Nepal army has also been deployed to locate the tourists and help with the rescue efforts. The absence of mobile connectivity, thick snow and difficult terrain have made it challenging for rescue teams to establish the group’s exact location and assess their condition. According to the District Administration Office, 244 tourists have reached Upper Dolpa, including 149 Nepali nationals, 44 tourists from SAARC countries and 51 visitors from other foreign countries. Amid the worsening weather conditions, the district administration has urged tourists to avoid risky areas and remain in safe locations. Tourist arrivals in the Shey‑Phoksundo Lake region have increased in recent years. Official data show that 4,882 tourists visited Phoksundo Lake during the first 11 months of the fiscal year 2082/83.