KATHMANDU: The Nepal Army has agreed to use its MI-17 helicopter to rescue the foreign tourists who have been left high and dry at Lukla on the foothills of Mt. Everest after the air services were disrupted due to bad weather conditions.
The Nepal Tourism Board and tourism entrepreneurs had appealed the NA headquarters to help for the rescue of the tourists from Lukla.
The helicopter will fly for Lukla right after the weather condition gets slightly improved and rescue the tourists with priority, said treasurer of the Trekking Association of Nepal Anjan Kumar Thapa. Those who are in hurry to catch up their international flights in Kathmandu will be airlifted first.
It is expected that the rescue operation will be comfortable as the helicopter with 18 seats can land and take flights even in the difficult terrain. It is said that around 2,000 tourists are stranded in Lukla since October 31 following the adverse weather conditions.
