Rescue efforts are underway for 12 domestic tourists and three British women who are stranded due to heavy snowfall in Hidden Valley, Mustang. 

Spokesperson of the Nepal Army, Rajaram Basnet, said that efforts are underway to airlift 12 domestic tourists and three British women stranded in Hidden Valley, adding that continuous snowfall and bad weather have caused some problems in the rescue bid.

“The tourists are in normal (health) condition, and coordination with the travel company for rescue is underway,” he said.

The 15 tourists were stranded in the valley after continuous snowfall from Monday night covered the trekking route while travelling from Mudi, Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality-4 in Myagdi via the Italian base camp to Marpha, Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-2 in Mustang.

Meanwhile, a team of security personnel have rescued around 1,500 tourists trapped in the upper region of Manang due to continuous snowfall.

According to the Army spokesperson Basnet, 1,500 people, including 200 foreign tourists stranded in various places of Tilicho, Khangsar, Pisang, Upper Manang and Humde areas of Manang, have been rescued.

The rescue team deployed from the Nepal Army's New Bhairavidal Company in Manang, in collaboration with the local administration, people's representatives, the Armed Police Force Nepal, and Nepal Police, had brought the tourists to a safe location.