KATHMANDU: The remains of four Koreans who died in Nepal are stuck here due to the lockdown and restrictions on flights imposed to curb the wide-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

The remains of four South Korean nationals who had lost their lives in Annapurna Conservation Area are still stuck in Nepal despite the country’s promise to provide it to the relatives and family members in Korea.

The families of the deceased Korean nationals had agreed to let the last rituals of their dead ones being executed here in Nepal, provided the remains would be handed over to them.

Those four Koreans who had gone missing in the Annapurna area were found dead on May 1.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided to let the Nepalis working in Korea stuck in Nepal due to lockdown fly back to Korea via a chartered plane. The government had agreed to let the dead bodies of those Koreans be taken via the same flight.

However, the last hour cancellation of the flight due to the inability to complete the documentation deterred the process.

Citing the difficulties generated by the pandemic, the families and relatives of the deceased agreed to let the last rituals carried out in Nepal provided the remains (astu) is sent to Korea.

The January 17’s avalanche in the Annapurna base camp had taken lives of many people including four South Korean nationals.

The rescue team of Nepal Army and Nepal Police had found their dead bodies near Hinku Cave close to Annapurna Base Camp on May 1.

According to Nepal Trekkers’ Association, three Nepali nationals  Suraj Pariyar, Chhiring Bhote and Min Bahadur Lama who had gone as the assistant of the Korean trekkers had also gone missing later to be discovered dead.