Myagdi. A team of security personnel has rescued 72 tourists, including 17 foreigners, from Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi district.

Security teams have been mobilized from the Mustang side to rescue tourists who are facing problems in the ‘hidden valley’ of the Dhaulagiri circuit trekking route linking Myagdi to Mustang.

Tourists visiting the Annapurna Base Camp at Annapurna rural municipality-4 in Myagdi district have been facing problems after the footpath was washed away by snowfall since Monday night.

A team comprising seven Armed Police Force, three civil police personnel and a local rescue worker Indra Singh Sherchan led by Police Inspector Binod Poudel from the Armed Police Force (APF) Battalion Galeshwor rescued the tourists.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Lila Bahadur Bhujel, 72 tourists, including 17 foreigners, were rescued from the base camp and brought down to Humkhola on Thursday morning.

“As many as 20 trekkers who lost their way were rescued with the help of ropes”, he said, adding that the rescue team cleared the snow accumulated on the trekking route and brought all the tourists to safer places. ’

The Maurice Herzog trekking route linking the Annapurna Base Camp has been cleared and all the tourists have been brought to a safer place, said DSP Bhujel. Tourists who had gone to the base camp at an altitude of 4,190 meters above sea level were stranded at their shelter due to rain, snowfall and bad weather.

Tourists staying in hotels at Humkhola, Phutphute, Sadhikharka, Guphanphant, Bhusket Mela and Panchakunda have returned with the help of security personnel. The weather was clear on Wednesday and it has started snowing again since Thursday morning.

Chief District Officer of Myagdi, Badri Prasad Tiwari, said that the visit to the Annapurna Base Camp has been restricted from Monday till October 28 in view of possible risks caused by snowfall and rainfall.

The administration and Annapurna Rural Municipality have appealed to the people not to visit Khopra Lake, Ghodepani, Punhill, Mohredada and other areas and to be careful.

Meanwhile, a team of security personnel has been mobilized to rescue three British women tourists and 12 Nepali guides and workers who were in trouble in the Hidden Valley at 5,100 meters from the sea level while heading towards Marfa of Gharpajhong rural municipality-2 of Mustang through the base camp of Mt Dhaulagiri in Dhaulagiri-4.

Chief District Officer of Mustang, Bishnu Prasad Bhusal, said that a team of security personnel from Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Civil Police had reached Alobari of Marpha at an altitude of 3,700 meters from the sea level on Thursday morning.

“We have been informed that a team of tourists has arrived at Dhampul Lake from Hidden Valley,” he said, adding, “The security team is heading towards the lake by making a road.” We expect security personnel and tourists to meet by noon if the weather permits. ’

A team of 15 security personnel led by Lieutenant Colonel Prashant Bista of Nepal Army’s Higher Peak School in Jomsom has been mobilized for the rescue operation.