Nepal resumes search for the trapped
Kathmandu, Oct. 21: Nepalese rescuers ploughed ahead Tuesday with their search for survivors still feared trapped one week after a deadly Himalayan snowstorm, as the government pledged greater reforms of the trekking industry.
Rescue workers had been preparing to wind up their full- scale search, but returned to the mountains Tuesday on fresh information that trekkers may still be stranded on the popular Annapurna Circuit route. “Rescue operations have been continuing... As there has been some information that some people might be in affected areas with no communication with the outside world,” the home ministry said in a statement.
The statement did not give details about the nationalities or the number of those feared still caught in the snow.
More than 500 people have now been airlifted to safety since a snowstorm hit the Annapurna region last Tuesday at the height of the trekking season, triggering avalanches.
At least 41 trekkers, porters, guides and others have either been confirmed dead or presumed to have perished in the disaster, according to figures released by the ministry. Emergency workers have retrieved 33 bodies so far, but eight others remain buried in Manang district, home secretary Surya Prasad Silwal told a press briefing.
Mr Silwal said the government would take steps to provide more training to trekking guides and maintain more accurate records of tourist numbers in mountainous areas. “This disaster has been a great lesson for us,” he said.
“We have also realised the need to provide more training to trekking guides working with foreigners so risks can be minimised.”