Tourismupdated 1h ago2 min read
Six Indian Tourists Go Missing Near Shey-Phoksundo Lake After Heavy Snowfall In Nepal
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Six Indian tourists, including two women, went missing while trekking toward Shey-Phoksundo Lake. They lost contact amid heavy snowfall near Numla and Bagla Pass in Dolpa district.
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Six Indians missing in Dolpa
Six Indian tourists, including two women and four men, went missing while trekking toward Shey-Phoksundo Lake in Nepal’s Dolpa district after heavy snowfall disrupted travel in the high-altitude Himalayan region.
The tourists were travelling from Ward Nos. 4 and 8 of Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality towards Shey-Phoksundo Lake, and they were last reported missing in the Numla Pass and Bagla Pass areas between Ward Nos. 4 and 8 of Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality.
Dolpa Chief District Officer Junu Hamal confirmed that “the tourists became stranded while returning from Dho towards Phoksundo Lake,” and she said locals had warned them about difficult weather and mountain conditions but they proceeded with their journey.
Dolpa Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Raj Giri said the six Indian tourists remained uncontactable, and authorities requested a helicopter for search and rescue operations.
A Nepal Army team was deployed to locate the missing tourists and assist in rescue operations as heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions hampered efforts.
No phone coverage, helicopter sought
Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality chairman Dhawa Samduk Gurung said mobile phone communication was unavailable in the mountain passes between Wards 4 and 8, making it difficult to obtain information about the tourists’ whereabouts and current condition. The District Administration Office data reported that a total of 244 tourists have reached Upper Dolpa, including 149 Nepali nationals, 44 from SAARC countries, and 51 citizens of other foreign countries. The district administration urged tourists to avoid risky areas and remain in safe locations in view of adverse weather conditions, while local guides suspected the group became stranded along the route due to heavy snowfall.
Local residents said the tourists had been warned that snowfall would make it difficult to cross the mountain passes, and the group reportedly got trapped in the snow while returning. OnlineKhabar English News said concerned agencies were asked to arrange a helicopter for search and rescue, and it said the area’s lack of phone coverage and deep snow left the tourists’ condition unclear.
Tourism risk in Shey-Phoksundo
The incident unfolded as snowfall was reportedly influenced by Cyclone Arnab developing over the Bay of Bengal, and multiple reports linked the disruption to the storm’s impact on the Himalayan region. Deccan Chronicle said the tourists continued towards the high-altitude region despite warnings from residents about difficult weather conditions and the risks of crossing the mountain passes, and it said they were believed to have become trapped in the snow while returning. The Economic Times quoted Dolpa Chief District Officer Junu Hamal saying, “the tourists became stranded while returning from Dho towards Phoksundo Lake,” and it described search and rescue efforts as hampered by heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions.
The Times of India said the absence of mobile connectivity, thick snow and difficult terrain made it challenging for rescue teams to establish the group’s exact location and assess their condition. Deccan Chronicle reported that tourist arrivals in the Shey-Phoksundo Lake region have been increasing, and it cited data showing 4,882 tourists visited Phoksundo Lake during the first 11 months of fiscal year 2082/83.