Six Indian Tourists Rescued From Nepal's Shey-Phoksundo National Park After Heavy Snowfall

Six Indian tourists, including two women and four men, have been safely rescued after being stranded in Nepal's Himalayan region following heavy snowfall. A private helicopter airlifted them on Monday morning, November 2, after they remained out of contact since November 1.

The rescue operation took place in the Shey-Phoksundo National Park area of Dolpa district in northwestern Nepal. According to Binaya Singh, police inspector and spokesperson for the District Police Office in Dolpa, all six tourists were rescued by a private helicopter.

The tourists are currently receiving treatment at a government hospital in Dunai, the district headquarters of Dolpa. Police confirmed that their condition was out of danger.

The group had travelled to the Dho area in Ward No. 8 of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality, approximately 300 km northwest of Kathmandu. They became stranded at the Numla and Wagla mountain passes while returning after visiting Shey-Phoksundo Lake, following heavy snowfall in the region on Saturday.

An earlier rescue attempt on Sunday was unsuccessful after a Nepal Army helicopter could not land because of adverse weather conditions. The operation had to be suspended, delaying the evacuation until Monday morning.

According to Dolpa Chief District Officer Junu Dhakal, the area was covered in heavy snow. Local authorities and residents had also warned tourists against travelling through the mountainous region because of dangerous weather conditions.

Authorities further revealed that the Indian tourists had travelled to Upper Dolpa without obtaining the required administrative permits, according to the District Administration Office, as reported by OnlineKhabar.

Shey-Phoksundo Lake, located in the rural municipality, is Nepal's deepest lake. Situated at an altitude of 3,600 metres, it has an estimated depth of 145 metres.

Tourists getting stranded in heavy snowfall is not unprecedented in Nepal. In October 2025, 15 trekkers, including three British women, were rescued after being trapped by heavy snowfall in Mustang's Hidden Valley. In November last year, two Nepali tourists were also rescued by helicopter after being stranded near the Mustang-Dolpa border.