A blizzard cut off a group of hikers near the high-altitude lake Shei Phoksundo in Nepal

A rescue operation has been launched in the high-altitude Dolpa district to evacuate six Indian tourists who were stranded in the Danigad area of ​​Shei-Foksundo municipality. The travelers were returning after visiting Shei-Foksundo Lake, but a several-day snowstorm blocked traffic and cut off their return route.

According to the head of the Dolpa district administration, Junu Hamal Dhakal, a Nepalese army helicopter was brought in to search and evacuate people. Due to the lack of cellular coverage in the disaster area, direct telephone communication with tourists is impossible, but army units deployed in the territory of the Shei-Poksundo National Park are maintaining contact with them.

The district authorities also noted that the group set out for the high-altitude lake despite official restrictions that had been in place for trekkers since October 29 due to dangerous weather.