Dolpa chief district officer Junu Hamal confirmed the group of six went silent while returning from Dho towards Phoksundo Lake. They were walking between Ward Nos. 4 and 8 of Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality when the weather turned lethal.
The tourists ignored explicit warnings from local residents about dangerous conditions. They pressed on through the Numla and Bagla Pass areas, a decision that now cost them their freedom. Local guides believe the group became stranded in deep snow as Cyclone Arnab, developing over the Bay of Bengal, dumped unprecedented precipitation on the Himalayas.
Rescue efforts are grinding to a halt. Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality Chairman Dhawa Samduk Gurung stated that mobile phone communication is completely unavailable in the passes. "We cannot establish contact with the tourists or assess their condition," Gurung said. Without a signal, the exact location of the stranded group remains a blind spot for the rescue teams.
Dolpa deputy superintendent of police Anil Raj Giri said authorities have requested a helicopter to assist in the operation. A team from the Nepal army is also on the ground, battling thick snow and difficult terrain. The District Administration Office notes that 244 tourists are currently in Upper Dolpa, including 149 Nepali nationals and 95 foreigners.
The administration has urged all visitors to avoid risky areas and stay in safe locations. Tourist arrivals in the region have surged, with 4,882 visiting Phoksundo Lake in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2082/83. The next critical step is the arrival of the search-and-rescue helicopter, which is the only viable option to locate the group in the snow-covered peaks.