A tragic incident occurred on Sunday along the Hidden Lake (Triveni Tal) trail located in Annapurna Rural Municipality-11 of Kaski district, where two laborers lost their lives after being struck by lightning. The deceased have been identified as 44-year-old Bharat Pubir Rai and 18-year-old Mahesh Rai, both from Silichong Rural Municipality-2 in Sankhuwasabha district.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Basanta Kumar Sharma, spokesperson for the District Police Office, Kaski, the lightning strike was accompanied by strong winds and occurred while the victims were engaged in construction work on the trail. The two were part of a nine-member team assigned to widen the trail and install stairs and railings along the Hidden Lake route, situated at an altitude of 3,800 meters above sea level.
The remaining seven workers involved in the trail construction project have been reported safe. After receiving information about the incident, a team of four police personnel led by an inspector was dispatched from the District Police Office. “The police team reached Ghandruk last night and stayed overnight. Since it takes more than five hours on foot to reach the incident site from there, the process of retrieving the bodies began today,” DSP Sharma informed.
With the assistance of local residents from Ghandruk, Tadapani, Banthati, Maser, Isharu, and Dobato, along with support from Nepal Police, the bodies were successfully recovered and transported to Pokhara for post-mortem examination. The construction of the Hidden Lake trail is a joint initiative between the Nepal Tourism Board and Annapurna Rural Municipality. The trail, known for its scenic beauty and remote charm, is being developed to promote eco-tourism and improve trekking infrastructure in the region.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, and local officials have expressed condolences to the families of the deceased while emphasizing the need for improved safety measures in high-altitude construction projects.
