Six Indians Go Missing Near Nepal's Deepest Lake, Heavy Snow And No Mobile Network Hamper Rescue

Nepal: Six Indian tourists, including two women and four men, have gone missing during a trek to Shey-Phoksundo Lake in Nepal after heavy snowfall in the region, authorities confirmed on Sunday. The tourists were travelling through the high-altitude areas of Dolpo when they lost contact with local authorities. Officials suspect that the tourists may have been stranded in heavy snow while returning from their trek. Meanwhile, rescue efforts have been affected by bad weather in the region.

Six Indian Tourists Go Missing

According to ANI, citing officials, six Indian tourists went missing while travelling from Ward Nos. 4 and 8 of Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality towards Shey-Phoksundo Lake, the deepest lake in Nepal. They were last reported missing in the Numla Pass and Bagla Pass areas between Ward Nos. 4 and 8 of Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality.

Tourists Ignored Warnings

Local guides suspect that the tourists may have been stranded due to heavy snowfall in the Himalayan region. The snowfall was reportedly influenced by Cyclone Arnab, which is developing over the Bay of Bengal. Dolpa Chief District Officer Junu Hamal confirmed that the tourists were stranded while returning from Dho towards Phoksundo Lake. She said local residents had warned them about the difficult weather conditions before they continued their trek. "The tourists became stranded while returning from Dho towards Phoksundo Lake," Hamal said, as quoted by ANI.

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She added, "They had been warned by locals about the difficult weather and mountain conditions but proceeded with their journey." Meanwhile, the lack of mobile phone connectivity in the mountain passes has made it difficult for officials to find out where the tourists are and whether they are safe.

Nepal Army Deployed

Authorities have requested a helicopter to help with the search and rescue operation. However, heavy snowfall and poor weather in the high-altitude region have made rescue efforts difficult. The Nepal Army has also deployed a team to search for the six Indians. The district administration has advised tourists to avoid dangerous routes and stay in safe places.

About Shey-Phoksundo Lake

Shey-Phoksundo Lake is located in the Dolpa district of western Nepal, within Shey-Phoksundo National Park. It lies in the Upper Dolpo region of the Himalayas, close to the Tibetan border. The lake is located at an altitude of 3,611 metres above sea level. This makes the trek challenging due to the risk of altitude sickness and sudden weather changes. Heavy snowfall can trap trekkers on mountain passes such as Numla and Bagla. The area also lacks mobile network coverage in several locations.

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