3 die of altitude sickness in Manang

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Lamjung, Oct. 27: Three people have died from altitude sickness in the Himalayan district of Manang. According to the District Administration Office, Manang, the victims died in different areas of Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality while carrying loads and working as guides for tourists in the high Himalayan region.

The deceased have been identified as 44-year-old Ram Bahadur Thapa from Tanahun, 49-year-old Samba Ghale from Kispang Rural Municipality-1 in Nuwakot, and 48-year-old Dil Bahadur Gurung from Bhujung, Kholasothar Rural Municipality-4 in Lamjung.

Thapa, who worked as a tourist guide, had stayed overnight at the Kerela Hotel in Narpa Bhumi-2 on Saturday. He was found dead at the same hotel. On Sunday morning, his body was airlifted by helicopter and taken to the Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for further examination.

Similarly, on Saturday, Dil Bahadur Gurung from Bhujung in Lamjung, died of altitude sickness at Kangla Phedi in Narpa Bhumi-4. Gurung had fallen unconscious due to altitude sickness and passed away during treatment.

According to Chief District Officer Nawaraj Paudel, Gurung became unconscious while returning from Kangla Phedi (around 4,500 metres) after carrying tourists’ loads. Upon receiving information about the incident, a two-member police team led by Inspector Arjun Basnet rescued Gurung by Air Dynasty helicopter and sent him to Pokhara Manipal Teaching Hospital with Assistant Sub-Inspector Krishna Kami for treatment. The hospital later confirmed that Gurung had died during treatment.

Meanwhile, according to Police Inspector Arjun Basnet, the information officer at the District Police Office, Manang, 49-year-old Samba Ghale from Kispan-11, Nuwakot, also died on the spot from altitude sickness on Friday while returning from Yak Kharka in Narpa Bhumi-4 after carrying tourist loads.