Nepali Army leads massive rescue of 1,500 trekkers stranded in Manang after heavy snowfall….reports Asian Lite News
Nepali security forces have successfully rescued more than 1,500 trekkers, including over 200 foreign tourists, who were stranded in the high-altitude region of Manang following days of heavy snowfall and deteriorating weather conditions. The rescue mission, led by the Nepal Army in coordination with local authorities, came amid growing concerns over safety in the popular trekking routes leading to Tilicho Lake — one of the highest lakes in the world at 4,919 metres.
According to an official statement released by the Nepal Army, rescue teams from the New Bhairavidal Gulm battalion were dispatched to Manang after severe snowstorms blocked trails and stranded hundreds of trekkers near Tilicho Base Camp. “Due to heavy snowfall in various areas of Manang district, a rescue team deployed from the New Bhairavidal Gulm has assisted approximately 1,500 people, including more than 200 foreign tourists, in reaching a safe place,” the army said in a post on X.
The operation involved a joint effort from the local administration, elected representatives, the Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and local volunteers, who helped guide stranded trekkers down treacherous slopes blanketed in snow.
Local authorities reported that nearly 800 to 900 trekkers had turned back from Tilicho Base Camp in the past two days, with many making their way down to Khangsar — the last settlement before the lake. “After the heavy snowfall in the high areas, nearly one thousand tourists have descended to Khangsar. Many others are still coming down due to the adverse weather,” said Chyolpa Gurung, ward chair of Ngisyang Rural Municipality-9, speaking to ANI by phone.
District authorities urge caution
The District Administration Office in Manang confirmed that rescue and clearance operations are ongoing. Chief District Officer (CDO) Naba Raj Poudyal said, “Attempts are being made to clear the trails, but the snowfall is intense. We have requested trekkers and tourists who are still in low-lying areas to cancel their plans to visit until the end of this week.”
A district-level security task force has been deployed for road clearance, and excavators and shovels are being used to clear blocked sections of mountain routes. Some roads have been partially reopened, with motorcycles beginning to move in certain areas, offering relief to stranded locals and trekkers.
The adverse weather has once again highlighted the risks of trekking in high Himalayan regions during the early winter season, when sudden snowstorms can quickly turn popular trails into dangerous zones.
As rescue operations continued, Nepal experienced an earthquake of magnitude 3.5 on Tuesday morning, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported. The tremor struck at 7:17 AM Indian Standard Time at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, with coordinates placing it in eastern Nepal.
Shallow earthquakes, such as this one, tend to cause more intense ground shaking as they release energy close to the surface. Though there were no immediate reports of damage, experts said the tremor was a reminder of Nepal’s seismic vulnerability.
Nepal lies on the highly active seismic zone formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This convergence creates immense pressure and stress, leading to frequent earthquakes. The same tectonic forces are responsible for the uplift of the Himalayan mountain range — and for Nepal’s history of devastating quakes, including the 2015 disaster that killed nearly 9,000 people.
Combined forces keep tourists safe
Officials say that despite the compounded challenges of snowstorms and seismic activity, Nepal’s rescue coordination has improved significantly since 2015, thanks to better communication systems and community-based alert mechanisms.
As weather forecasts predict continued snowfall in high-altitude areas, local authorities have advised tourists to avoid travel beyond safe checkpoints and to follow all official advisories. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that all remaining trekkers descend safely and that routes are cleared before the next wave of winter storms.
