Nepal: 16 Killed, Many Missing in Dolpa Snowfall

At least 16 persons were killed and around a thousand missing in Dolpa district after they were buried in heavy snowfall at Tangtyange Lekh area on Saturday.

The incident occurred on Saturday night while heavy snowfall hit the tents being used by the locals who were there to collect Yarchagumba, a kind of medicinal herb, DSP Naresh Man Shrestha of Mid-western regional police office in Surkhet said. Nanku Budha who arrived at Area Police Office of Kaigaun VDC from Tangtyange Lekh this morning reported to police about the incident.

According to DSP Shrestha, the deceased have been identified as Lal Bahadur Budha, Dhanrupa Budha of Sarmi VDC 9, Deep Bahadur Budha, Bir Bahadur Budha, Khadag Budha, Laxmi Chand Budha, Pati Budha, Dil Bahadur Budha, Amrita Budha, Madhav Budha of Sarmi VDC 8, Rup Dhan Rokay, Ganga Devi Rokaya, Nandawati Rokaya, Lagani Rokaya, Sarina Rokaya of Sarmi VDC 6 and Nanda Kurala of Sarmi VDC 2.

More than one thousand locals of the Sarmi VDC have been reported out of contact since Saturday, Shrestha quoted officers at Kaigaun Area Police Office as saying.

Regional Administration Office was planning to dispatch additional rescue teams from Nepalgunj and Kathmandu, Shrestha said adding a team of police has already left for Tangtyange Lekh this morning.