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Nepal concludes search and rescue operations

Emergency workers have ended the search for hikers after more than 500 people have been airlifted to safety.

Emergency workers have ended the search for hikers after more than 500 people have been airlifted to safety.

Families of those unaccounted for are breathing a sigh of relief as, according to Nepal’s emergency services, all hikers that were stranded during the snowstorms in the Himalayas have either been accounted for or are rescued and are safe.

So far, emergency workers have airlifted over 500 people to safety, including 310 foreign tourists. This news has signified an end to the rescue operations.

The last flights by rescue helicopters in Mustang, Manang and Dolpa districts were said to have taken place on Tuesday.

himalayas - karryon

Snowstorms in the Himalayas occurred after the tail end of a cyclone disturbed the region.

“We believe that all the trekkers and guides have been helped and as far as we know there are no more people stranded on the route,” said Yadav Koirala of Nepal’s disaster management division, adding that some soldiers would be camped in parts of the area.

Nonetheless, the conclusion of the search is tragic news for the families of the dozens that perished. At least 38 people, including trekkers from Canada, India, Israel, Slovakia, Poland and Japan, have died. Most of them have been flown to nearby towns or Katmandu, Nepal’s capital, for autopsies.

The victims were on or near the Annapurna trekking route, a 220km collection of trails through the mountain range. Most of the casualties were among those caught on the Thorong La pass, one of the highest points on the circuit.

It is believed that the snowstorms occurred due to the tail end of a cyclone that hit the Indian coast a few days earlier. Hikers were caught off guard when the weather changed quickly.

Feature Image Source: NBC News.

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