Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, has issued directives for the immediate rescue of tourists stranded in various parts of the country due to continuous rainfall.
In an emergency meeting held today with key officials from the ministry and representatives of tourism and civil aviation organizations, a nine-point directive was issued, according to Ministry Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Ramkrishna Lamichhane.
The key directives include the effective mobilization of the Tourist Police for immediate rescue operations, and coordination between the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority and airline companies to waive extra charges for passengers who missed international flights due to the disruption of domestic flights.
Additionally, the ministry has instructed that helicopter rescue flights be conducted at regular and concessional rates, with airline helicopters and resources from rafting associations to be kept on standby for emergency operations. The rafting associations’ ongoing rescue efforts have been highly praised, with directives issued to continue these efforts.
Furthermore, all airports in the country are operational, and as soon as the weather conditions improve, international and domestic flights will resume at full capacity. Continuous updates on weather and flight conditions will be provided to keep all parties informed. The Hotel Association of Nepal has also been directed to offer lodging and dining services at reasonable and standard rates to tourists who are forced to extend their stay due to flight disruptions.
