Bodies of two Indian tourists missing since nearly three weeks in Manang of Nepal found

KATHMANDU: The bodies of two Indian tourists, who had gone missing since October 20, have been recovered from Manang district of Nepal, security officials confirmed. After weeks of search, the security forces recovered the bodies of the Indian tourists buried in the snow.

According to the Armed Police Force (APF), the deceased have been identified as 52-year-old Jignesh Kumar Lallubhai Patel and 17-year-old Priyansa Kumari Patel. The deceased are confirmed to be father and daughter.

Deputy SP Shailendra Thapa said, “The rescue team had been searching for the missing duo for weeks. On November 9, a mountain rescue team led by APF Deputy Superintendent Hira Bahadur GC located their bodies about 100 meters above the monastery, buried under snow”.

यही कार्तिक २ गतेबाट हराईरहेका दुई जना भारतीय पर्यटक कार्तिक २३ गते मनाङको ङिस्याङ-६, मा हिउँले पुरी मृत अवस्थामा फेला परेकोले नयाँ भैरवीदल गुल्म, नेपाल प्रहरी तथा सशस्त्र प्रहरी बल नेपालको सहकार्यमा सदरमुकाम चामेस्थित प्रादेशिक अस्पताल ल्याइएको छ।#NepaliArmy#BhairavidalCoy pic.twitter.com/mDPkY9E89f

— Nepali Army (@NepaliArmyHQ) November 10, 2025

As per the security personnel, the two had left Gyalzen Hotel in Ngisyang Rural Municipality-4 on October 20, saying they were heading to visit Maleripa Monastery in Ward No. 5. They had been out of contact since then. After losing contact, the hotel had informed the APF’s Mountain Rescue Training Center in Manang, which began the search operation. The process of recovering the bodies from the site is expected to be completed by Monday, Thapa added.

A severe snowstorm hit Nepal in October. From the Manang district alone, the security forces had rescued over 1,500 stranded tourists following heavy snowfall and adverse weather. The father-daughter duo had gone missing before the Montha effect had hit the Himalayas of Nepal. Still, another weather pattern had brought heavy snowfall in the high-lying areas in October.

All the trekking routes in Nepal were closed for over a week due to adverse weather conditions, with blockades reported in many tourist destinations. (ANI)