Rescue works to save stranded tourists begins in Nepal

The government of Nepal has commenced rescue operation of the stranded tourists in Lukla, a north-eastern town in Nepal. A large number of tourists have been stranded in the Tenzing- Hillary Airport in Lukla owing to cancellations of more than 100 flights due to the bad weather that has hovered in the mountainous regions since Tuesday. The small airport which is located at an altitude of 2,860 meters is one of the busiest airports in Nepal as it is the gateway for tourists visiting Mount Everest (Mt. Qomolangma). Although the exact number of tourists has not been known, it is expected to be around 2000. Talking to Xinhua, Krishna Hari Khatri, member of Trekkers Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN), said that most of the tourists stranded in Lukla are from United States and Europe. More than 80 tourists were rescued by helicopters belonging to the commercial airlines companies on Friday. "TAAN along with other tourism based industries requested the government for immediate rescue as the situation in Lukla was beginning to get hectic due to increase in the number of stranded tourists," Khatri said.