Kathmandu, February 6
The Karnali state government is preparing to send helicopters to rescue 55 people trapped in snow at various places on Gagra Lake in Jumla.
Karnali Chief Minister Jeevan Bahadur Shahi is about to send a Nepal Army helicopter to rescue those trapped in Gagra Lake. Chief Minister Shahi informed that helicopters have been sent to Gragra Patan on the border of Jajarkot and Jumla.
”As much as five feet of snow has been reported, there is no possibility of helicopters landing there,” said Chief Minister Shahi.
Acting Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Karnali, Nidhiraj Neupane, said that preparations are being made to take food items such as Chiura, Dalmoth and Noodles from Surat Bahadur Shahi, a local of Jumla Toplagaun, Tatopani Gaonpalika-8 to find out the situation there.
According to local Shahi, 55 people have been trapped in the snow at Gagra, Adiodhar,
Khotisalla and Dhwani in Gagra Patan, a day’s drive from Toplagaun of Tatopani Gaonpalika-8 Jumla.
They have gone there to collect white sugar (khiraunla). According to Shahi, his daughter-in-law Jakuwara Shahi and Mun Bahadur Rawat of Tatopani-7 have died due to frostbite.
Jumla Chief District Officer Bijaya Prasai said that preparations are being made to rescue the person trapped in the snow by coordinating with Tatopani village municipality and the state government.
Chief Administrative Officer of Tatopani Village Municipality, Milan Budhapa, said that
immediate rescue of food and freezing supplies was provided for the people trapped in the
snow but it was impossible to deliver food without helicopters.
By Karuna Thapa
