Mahendra Singh Thapa, president of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN), said around 100 tourists have been brought to the capital by private helicopters from Surke, which is one-and-a-half hours walk from Lukla airport. [break]
Stranded aircraft of Tara Air flew back to the capital once weather improved for sometime in the morning. Tara Air carried 16 tourists while flying back to the capital.
“We are planning mass rescue and it couldn´t happen so far because of the bad weather. There is no alternative but to wait for the good weather," Thapa said.
Shyam Thapa, chief of Himalayan Expedition in Lukla, said a few hundred tourists have started to trek towards Jiri but many of them are returning to Lukla as well.
Around 2,500 people including tourists their porters and guides have been stranded for last six days since no commercial flights could take off from Lukla due to inclement weather.
Stranded tourists in Lukla. (File Photo)
Following the request of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, NA agreed to provide the only 24-seater helicopter in the country for the rescue operation on Friday.
11-member committee to monitor fares
SOLUKHUMBU: Following the complaints regarding airlines charging exorbitant fares, a monitoring and rescue committee has been formed. Chief of Lukla airport Utsav Kharel heads the 11-member committee, which has instructed private helicopter operators not to charge more than $ 600 per person for a trip back to the capital.
The committee members said that they would take strict action against operators found to be overcharging. TAAN officials said that the operators were found to be charging up to $1,000 per person.
File photo
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