GORKHA: Thirty tourists who had been stranded in Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) have been rescued.

They were rescued from Manaslu circuit by arranging pass for them, said Harka Roka of District Administration Office.

Foreigners from Australia, Denmark, Germany, Canada and France, Korea, Argentina were rescued in the period of three days.

Passes were arranged for them enabling them to reach Kathmandu in the period of four days.

Two were airlifted in a helicopter while the others returned via land route.

According to Roka they had not reached even Larke Pass when the authorities announced a lockdown in the country, restricting the movement of people and the shutting down all restaurants and hotels.

Some tourists who had reached Chum and Nubri in Manaslu Conservation Area came back to Machhakhola on foot to be ferried by a vehicle, said Chief of Dharche rural municipality Santosh Gurung.

Tourists panicked after having known that there were no vehicles nor were there any restaurants and hotels opening.

There are still 13 tourists stranded in northern Gorkha in Manaslu Conservation Area Project, according to Narendra Lama, chief of MCAP.

Lama informed that five are from Samagaun, two from Lho and remaining five are from Chhekampar.

“We will send them to Kathmandu by arranging pass,” said he.

According to MCAP, a total of 68 tourists had taken permission for a visit from March 8 to 15.