Tourist rescue from police recommended

KATHMANDU, July 31: A committee formed to probe anomalies taking place in the name of rescue of foreign tourists has recommended the government to arrange tourist rescue works through Nepal Police.

Handing over a 700-page report to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari Monday, the committee recommended the government to designate the Nepal Police to carry out rescue of tourists during mountaineering and trekking.

As a first alternative, the report has suggested the government to take cabinet-level decision to designate Nepal Police to perform all works related to rescue of tourists. The report also suggested bringing the new arrangement to effect from coming September-November. A toll free call would also be mechanized for this, reads the report.

As a second alternative, the report recommended installing tourist rescue desks in airports.

The report noted that arrangement of chopper would be made to rescue tourists and take them to hospital of their choice for treatment.

“We have recommended the authority concerned to formulate a Work Procedure on Mountaineering and Trekking Search and Rescue-2075 within 15 days”, stated a release issued by the probe committee.

The report recommended measures to initiate short-term and long-term reforms in tourism sector.

The government had formed a six-member probe committee under the coordination of Tourism Ministry Spokesperson Ghanashyam Upadhyay on June 4. RSS