The Indian tourists and their Nepali guide were safely evacuated from the Nagarkot forest in Nepals yesterday Sunday, about ten hours after they had been reported lost. This sad event, which took place in the Bhaktapur district some 30 kilometres from Kathmandu, points at the same time to the bosom appeal and hazards which may be hidden at tourism overheated admired Nepal trekking lands.
The tourists who are from India have been named as Nitin Tiwari, Rashmi Tiwari, and their boy Tanish Tiwari, together with their Nepali guide Hari Prasad Kharel, have been on a trek in Nagarkot forest in the Muhan Pokhari Rani Jhula area. They strayed from the right path at about 3 pm on Saturday, and due to this, the local authorities got worried, and Schim Wizards embarked on searching for the group.
After no tourists returned as the sun set, a search and rescue team from the Armed Police Force, local authorities, and citizens was formed. The rescue operation was not easy because the environment was rough, and it was still night; hence, the rescuers were willing to find the missing persons.
The group was finally discovered around midnight Sunday after the search went on throughout Saturday and through Sunday night in the Halhale Khowpa area of the forest. When found, the tourists and their guide complained of leech stings, emphasising the need to be well equipped and guided when undertaking such abscess in Nepalese vegetation regions.
Speaking to this reporter, Ward No. 7 Changunarayan chairman Shyam Krishna Shrestha said the team got to the spot where the tourists were found at midnight. Mr Jivan Khatri, the Mayor of Changunarayan, said this and also stated that all those who were rescued were in good health.
The episode gives information about the latest trend of visiting Nagarkot to get glimpses of the Himalayan range and the vicinity of the place to Kathmandu. It has been undergoing massive development over the recent past few years, and there are various kinds of hotels and resorts in this region that suit your name and pocket. But this mishap is a good lesson that many should take to ensure they seek necessary planning and local advice while visiting Nepal’s natural wonders.
It would not be surprising if local authorities reconsider the safety measures and guidelines it has provided to tourists who would visit the Nagarkot area in the wake of the incident. The fact that the rescue operation was successfully completed also demonstrates that emergency response management system in the region is efficient, and all stakeholders cooperated effectively in response to likely visitor emergencies.
The rescued Indian tourists and their guide were then evacuated to Kathmandu as they returned to the scene. That may force tourism authorities to look into other safety measures like signages in the trails , or compulsory use of guides for some of the trails in the region.
The tourism sector of Nagarkot has slowly regained its post-COVID-19 year trajectory as many tourists are pulled in by the beautiful scenes of the posterior Himalayan range, including Mount Everest, at both sunrise and sunset. It has different things: leading, hiking, mountain biking, and Paragliding, among others, thus making it a perfect venue for adventure lovers.
Since the operation in News of the Rescue, it has become a reminder and a success story of how prepared local authorities are in such operations. It may also increase tourists’ awareness then require them to stick to the tracks and to provide appropriate equipment and outfit needed while trekking at the areas of Nepal’s diverse terrains.
This is evident from the recent rescue operation involving trapped Indian tourists in the Nagarkot forest proves how fine line between tourism promotion and protection of people in those regions of Nepal. While the country carries on promoting tourism, such events offer learning points for both tourists and the Nepalese authorities about how to ensure everyone visiting the country to enjoy the natural wonders provided by this beautiful country.
