Six Indian Tourists Missing In Dolpa After Heavy Snowfall

Six Indian tourists, including two women and four men, have gone missing in Nepal's Dolpa district after heavy snowfall disrupted their journey toward Shey Phoksundo Lake. Authorities have requested a helicopter to help locate and rescue the missing tourists, while Nepal Army personnel have joined the search operation.

The tourists lost contact while traveling from Dho in Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality toward Shey Phoksundo Lake. They are believed to have gone missing around Numla Pass and Bagla Pass, located between wards 4 and 8 of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality.

Heavy snowfall, difficult mountain routes and a lack of mobile network coverage have made it challenging for authorities to determine their exact location and condition.

Tourists Feared Trapped In Heavy Snowfall

According to local guides, the tourists may have become trapped in deep snow while crossing the high mountain passes. The Himalayan region has experienced significant snowfall linked to Cyclone Arnab, which developed over the Bay of Bengal.

Local residents had reportedly warned the tourists about the risks of crossing the mountain passes during bad weather. However, the group continued its journey despite the warnings.

Dolpa Chief District Officer Junu Hamal said the tourists went missing while traveling from Dho toward Phoksundo Lake.

She explained that local residents had informed the group about the difficulties of crossing the mountains in heavy snowfall, but the tourists continued along the route.

Helicopter Requested As Nepal Army Joins Search

Dolpa Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Raj Giri confirmed that all six Indian tourists remained out of contact as of the latest information available in the report.

He said authorities had requested a helicopter from the relevant agencies to assist with the search and rescue operation.

Nepal Army personnel have also joined efforts to locate the missing tourists, according to Chief District Officer Hamal.

However, continuous snowfall and difficult weather conditions have created serious challenges for rescue teams working in the high mountain areas.

The search is particularly difficult because the Numla and Bagla pass areas have limited or no mobile network coverage.

Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality Chairperson Dhawa Samduk Gurung said poor communication services in these remote locations have made it difficult to obtain information about the missing tourists.

As a result, authorities have been unable to confirm whether the tourists are safe, injured or trapped in the snow.

244 Tourists Currently In Upper Dolpa

According to the Dolpa District Administration Office, a total of 244 tourists have traveled to Upper Dolpa.

Of these, 149 are Nepali citizens, 44 are visitors from SAARC countries and 51 are tourists from other countries.

The administration has urged all tourists currently visiting the region to avoid dangerous mountain routes and remain in safe locations until weather conditions improve.

Officials have warned that heavy snowfall and difficult terrain can make travel dangerous, particularly around high mountain passes where access to communication and emergency services is limited.

Authorities Urge Tourists To Avoid Dangerous Mountain Routes

The incident comes as officials continue to warn visitors about the risks of traveling through Nepal's high Himalayan regions during bad weather.

On October 28, the Department of Tourism advised tourists and mountaineers to postpone trips to high mountain areas until November 1 because of the risk of heavy snowfall, snowstorms and avalanches.

The Dolpa administration also issued safety instructions to trekking agencies, guides, tourists and residents. It urged people already in the mountains to move to safe locations and announced that trekking permits for restricted areas would not be issued during the period of dangerous weather.

These warnings followed forecasts of severe weather linked to Cyclone Arnab, which brought concerns about heavy snowfall across the Himalayan region.