KASKI: One of the two Spanish nationals who went missing on Sunday from Tikhedhunga in Annapurna Rural Municipality-9, Kaski, has been found dead.
According to Annapurna Rural Municipality spokesperson Bharatman Gurung, 37-year-old Eric Casanova was discovered deceased.
His companion, 32-year-old Molas Junka Mesi, remains missing. The two were reportedly trekking to Ghorepani via Ulleri.
Eric Casanova’s body was found lodged on a stone in the middle of the Bhurungdi River, about one kilometer downstream from Mauzakhola, where his bag had earlier been located.
A search operation involving armed police, Nepal Police, local officials, tourism professionals, and residents had been underway since this morning.
The tourists had registered their trek to Ghorepani at the Birethanti check post of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) on August 25.
According to the District Police Office Kaski, the identities of the two tourists were confirmed after two abandoned bags were found on the road on the same evening.
It is suspected that the tourists may have fallen into the river while taking pictures at a waterfall near the Bhurungdi River on their hiking trail, as their walking sticks were discovered near the waterfall.
Yam Bahadur Gurung, in charge of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project Birethanti Checkpost, stated that the search for the missing woman will continue on Wednesday.
The missing tourist’s situation has been reported to the respective embassy.
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