133 rescued after Nepal snowstorm

KATHMANDU – One hundred thirty-three people who were caught in a snowstorm in Nepal were rescued Thursday, authorities said.

“We rescued 96 people today, out of which 27 are Nepalis and the rest are foreigners,” said Devendra Lamichanne, the chief district officer of Manang district.

Lamichanne said 10 people remain missing after Tuesday’s storm.

In the neighboring Mustang district, 64 people were rescued. Ten bodies were retrieved, out of which three were Israeli trekkers, three Poles and four Nepalis.

“I thank God,” Israeli survivor Yakobh Megreli said. “We were walking toward the Thorongla Pass and on our way, a storm suddenly started. There was so much snow in the wind, we stopped at a tea shop. The storm did not stop so we stayed at the tea shop for the night. Next day we heard how terrible the storm had been and couldn’t believe we’d made it.”

He was rescued along with five other Israelis by army choppers.

Thursday, authorities raised to 29 the number of people killed in snowstorms in the central mountains.