10 tourists, including two foreigners stranded in Mera peak region

• Bhojraj Karki

Solukhumbu. Ten tourists, including two foreigners, have been stranded in the Mera peak area due to snowfall in the high mountainous region of the district along with continuous rains.

According to District Police Office, Solukhumbu, Chief of Police Kabit Katawal, they had been trapped in the snow since Tuesday afternoon while returning from Merapik in Mahakulung village of the district.

Police Office, four climbers were trapped in the Merala Odar at 5,700 meters, four at the high camp, and two at the base camp at 5,300 meters due to continuous rain and snow.

Police sources also confirmed that, Pasang Chhiring, Cheten Sherpa, and Pasang Sherpa, the climbing guides of Solukhumbu, including one of the four British nationals trapped in Merala cave.

Similarly, a foreign tourist, Purna Thapa Magar, and two unnamed persons were stranded at the high camp, and two other unnamed persons were stranded at the base camp.

They went on a Mera peak expedition through Adventure Victory and Makalu Adventure. Despite the inclement weather, seven climbing guides have reached Merala cave from Mahakulung’s Khare to rescue them.

According to Adventure Victory Director Laxman Mission Karki, four people were staying in the Merala cave, but rescuers found three of them in critical condition. He said that those in the high camps and base camps had food stored but those trapped in the Merala cave had no food.

“It has been reported that the condition of the three people found in Merala’s cave is critical,” Karki said. Helicopters will be sent for rescue as soon as the weather improves (rss).

Tourists stranded in Kanchenjunga

Likewise, foreign and domestic tourists visiting the Kanchenjunga area in Taplejung have been stranded due to the continuous rain for the past three days.

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