Six Indian tourists rescued by helicopter after heavy snowfall in Nepal's Dolpa

Six Indian tourists, including two women, were rescued by a private helicopter on Monday after being stranded in Nepal's remote Dolpa district for nearly two days amid heavy snowfall. They are undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Dunai, and their condition is reported to be out of danger, police said.

The group had lost contact with authorities on November 1 after snowfall cut off access to the mountainous region. The rescue operation was carried out on Monday morning, with the helicopter first evacuating the two women before returning to airlift the four men, according to local media reports.

Police Inspector Binaya Singh, spokesperson for the District Police Office in Dolpa, confirmed that all six tourists had been rescued.

Tourists stranded while returning from Shey Phoksundo Lake

The tourists had travelled to the Dho area in Ward No. 8 of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality, around 300 km northwest of Kathmandu. They became stranded near the Numla and Wagla passes while returning after visiting Shey Phoksundo Lake, as heavy snowfall hit the area on Saturday.

The group comprised two women and four men. They had reportedly proceeded into the mountainous region despite warnings from local authorities about the snowfall and the risks of travelling in the area.

According to the District Administration Office, the tourists had also travelled to Upper Dolpa without obtaining the required administrative permits, Nepal's OnlineKhabar news portal reported.

The six tourists have been identified in local media reports as Moumita Halder, Piyali Koley, Jajala Trived Kumar, Aditya Singha, Diplina Biswas and Rajesh De.

Earlier rescue attempt called off due to bad weather

An attempt to evacuate the group using a Nepali Army helicopter was made on Sunday, but the aircraft could not land because of unfavourable weather conditions. The operation was subsequently suspended, and arrangements were made for a private helicopter to carry out the rescue on Monday.

The tourists had remained out of contact since November 1, with heavy snowfall and the difficult terrain complicating efforts to reach them. The administration and local residents had advised against travelling through the mountainous region because of the risk of further snowfall.

Authorities had also urged visitors to remain in safe locations and exercise caution amid the adverse weather conditions.

Shey Phoksundo Lake and previous rescue operations

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 and is a popular destination for visitors to the Himalayan region.

Tourists being stranded by heavy snowfall is not unprecedented in Nepal's mountainous areas. In October 2025, 15 trekkers, including three British women, were rescued after getting trapped by heavy snowfall in Mustang's Hidden Valley.

In November 2025, two Nepali tourists were also rescued by helicopter after being stranded in snow near the Mustang-Dolpa border.