The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has directed an urgent search and rescue operation after reports of catastrophic flood in Nubri Manaslu region which may endanger the local residents, trekkers, mountain guides and porters. The association has urged an immediate inspection of the affected area and deployment of search and rescue experts to assist the affected people if any.
The NMA in its notice revealed that the flood has caused damage to houses, bridges, trekking path and other infrastructure, restricting free movement of people in and around the valley. According to the information received by the association from the Department of Immigration, there may be some trekkers stuck in the valley due to damage to bridges and blocked path. However, the number and status of the affected trekkers, if any, have not been mentioned in the notice.
NMA Asks For Search and Rescue Operations
The association has expressed deep concern over the development and urged the concerned authorities and emergency services to inspect the area and identify the rescue operation need. It may be mentioned that the damage to bridges and trekking trail may restrict free movement of people in the area. The association has further asked the authorities to launch search and rescue operation and emergency response in the affected areas immediately. It has emphasized on urgent response, saying that finding and rescuing the affected/stuck people, if any, must be the primary agenda. The NMA has also asked the concerned to share necessary information for this purpose.
Rescue Teams are Requested To Standby
The Nepal Mountaineering Association has requested mountaineers, rescue experts and emergency response teams to stand by and inform the association of their availability status for possible rescue operation. The request has been made to ensure that adequate rescue force is available for operation, if found necessary based on the inspection reports. The association has further asked the concerned to inform the NMA Secretariat in case of any rescue operation need as soon as possible. It said that such information will support the coordination between authorities and concerned and deploying the rescue force. Not mentioning that any rescue team has been deployed or any trekkers have been rescued yet.
NMA Offers Coordination With Authorities and Tourism Stakeholders
The Nepal Mountaineering Association has informed that it is ready to offer the support and coordinate with the government, local authorities, tourism stakeholders and rescue experts to respond to the emergency. The association has requested the concerned to collaborate and share the necessary and reliable information for the rescue operation to identify the rescuables as soon as possible. It has emphasized on the collaboration between the authorities and concerned stake holders to ensure the rescue operation is launched immediately.
According to the information received, the damage to the mountain infrastructure may pose threat to the trekkers and local residents. Though the status of the trekkers in the valley and the damage to the mountain route have not yet been confirmed, the NMA has urged all concerned to cooperate with the local authorities to launch the search and rescue operation as early as possible.
