Six Indian tourists, including two women and four men, have gone missing during a trek to Nepal's Shey-Phoksundo Lake, the country's deepest lake, after heavy snowfall disrupted travel through high-altitude mountain passes in the Dolpa district.
The tourists were travelling from wards 4 and 8 of Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality towards Shey-Phoksundo Lake when they lost contact. They were last reported missing in the Numla Pass and Bagla Pass areas, between wards 4 and 8 of Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality.
Dolpa Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Raj Giri confirmed that the six Indians remained uncontactable, adding that authorities had requested the concerned agency to arrange a helicopter for search and rescue operations.
A team of the Nepal Army has also been deployed to help locate the missing tourists and assist in their rescue.
Tourists feared trapped in snow while returning
Local guides suspect that the group may have become stranded after heavy snowfall in the Himalayan region, reportedly influenced by Cyclone Arnab developing over the Bay of Bengal.
According to local officials, the tourists continued towards the high-altitude region despite warnings from residents that snowfall and difficult mountain conditions could make crossing the passes dangerous. They are believed to have become trapped in the snow while returning from their journey.
Dolpa Chief District Officer Junu Hamal confirmed that the tourists had become stranded while travelling back from Dho towards Phoksundo Lake.
"The tourists became stranded while returning from Dho towards Phoksundo Lake," Hamal said, adding that locals had warned them about the difficult weather and mountain conditions before they proceeded.
Nepal Army deployed as snowfall hampers rescue efforts
Search and rescue operations have been complicated by continuous snowfall, poor weather conditions and difficult terrain in the high Himalayan region.
Snowfall has affected several high-altitude areas of Shey-Phoksundo, Dolpo Buddha and Chharka Tangsong rural municipalities since Saturday, while lower parts of Dolpa have experienced rainfall. The accumulation of snow has disrupted trekking routes and made it difficult for rescue teams to access the mountain passes.
Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality chairman Dhawa Samduk Gurung said mobile phone services were unavailable in the mountainous stretches between wards 4 and 8, making it difficult to obtain information about the missing group's location and condition.
Police officer Anil Raj Giri said the latest information available to the authorities indicated that all six Indian tourists remained out of contact. Officials have sought helicopter assistance to strengthen the search operation.
The Nepal Army team has been deployed as authorities attempt to locate the tourists amid continuing difficulties caused by snowfall and poor weather conditions.
Administration had warned tourists against trekking in risky areas
The District Administration Office had earlier issued warnings against trekking in Upper Dolpa in view of forecasts of adverse weather conditions. Tourists had been advised to avoid high-risk areas from October 28 and remain in safe locations.
The administration had also alerted relevant authorities about the possibility of heavy snowfall and avalanches, urging coordination to ensure the safety of tourists already travelling in the region.
Preparations for rescue and relief operations were being coordinated with the District Emergency Operation Centre, security agencies, health institutions and local authorities.
According to the District Administration Office, 244 tourists have reached Upper Dolpa. The group includes 149 Nepali nationals, 44 visitors from SAARC countries and 51 citizens of other foreign countries.
The district administration has urged tourists to avoid dangerous routes and remain in safe locations until weather conditions improve.
Nearly 5,000 tourists visited Phoksundo Lake in 11 months
Tourist arrivals in the Shey-Phoksundo Lake region have increased in recent years. Available data show that 4,882 tourists visited Phoksundo Lake during the first 11 months of Nepal's fiscal year 2082/83, corresponding to 2025-26.
Located at an altitude of more than 3,600 metres above sea level, Phoksundo Lake is a major tourist attraction in Dolpa, drawing domestic and international visitors for its natural beauty and Himalayan trekking routes.
However, sudden changes in weather and heavy snowfall can make journeys through the region's high-altitude mountain passes particularly dangerous.
Authorities are continuing efforts to trace the six missing Indian tourists, with the search complicated by difficult terrain, thick snow and limited communication facilities in the region.