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Nepal Tourism Board > Situation Updates > Crisis Response Update (27-Mar-2020)

Crisis Response Update (27-Mar-2020)Friday, March 27th, 2020

Since the nationwide lock-down was brought into effect on March 25, at 06:00 AM to contain the spread of the Corona Virus pandemic in the nation, ‘COVID Crisis Response Task Unit’, formed at Nepal Tourism Board, has been doing every bit to help and rescue the stranded tourists in different parts of the nation.

Since yesterday, a total number of 137 foreign tourists have been rescued so far from different parts of Nepal and Nepal Tourism Board NTB played key role to make it happen.

The major rescues are:

  1. 60 people from Jomsom (46 Tourists and remaining Nepali nationals) have been safely rescued and brought to Kathmandu this morning. All the 46 tourists are in Self Isolation in hotels at Thamel.
  2. NTB jointly with Embassy of France rescued 14 tourists (6 French and remaining other nationals) from Lukla by Tara Air flight at 2.30 PM today. All of them are kept at Hotel Everest for Self Isolation.
  3. Buddha Air brought 58 French Nationals from Pokhara to Kathmandu today at 4.30 PM. They are also kept at Hotel Everest for self-isolation whereas some are kept at Thamel.
  4. 4 French were rescued from Kande and brought to Pokhara yesterday. They will be brought to Kathmandu tomorrow.
  5. 10 Foreigners have been rescued from Machikhola and Arughat at Manaslu Area with the help of Dharche Manaslu Rural Municipality.
  6. 5 tourists (3 Australian and 2 Spanish) have been rescued from Gorkha Bazaar and brought to Kathmandu with the help of District Administration Office, Gorkha.

Stranded cases are:

  1. 8 Foreigners along with 11 Nepalese stranded at Sankhushabha while returning from Kanchanjunga Expedition. (Source: Deputy CDO, Sankhusbabha)
  2. There are still around 25 foreigners at Jagat and Machikhola areas.
  3. About 150 tourists are stranded at Lukla at present. The Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipaltiy has offered to provide free accommodation and food to all the stranded tourists at Lukla from today. Similarly, few restaurants in Pokhara have also started giving free food as well.

Hon. Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Bhattarai said, “all the stranded tourists will be rescued, kept safely for self isolation and facilitated for their safe journey back home”. Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr. Dhananjay Regmi assured, “We will leave no stone unturned to locate and rescue our valued tourists for which we solicit support and cooperation from local communities and concerned travel trade companies and associations”.

Nepal Tourism Board has also initiated “Stranded in Nepal” website, WhatsApp and Twitter to inform and update the current situation of all stranded across the country. The stranded tourists can now contact and email their conditions, according to which NTB will make necessary coordination and assist in their rescue. Embassies are also working in close coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board.

The Crisis Response Unit will be continuously updating the progress regarding the Tourists’ Status in Nepal.