More than 600 foreign tourists, mostly Indian and European, have been rescued from northeast Nepal near the border with Tibet where a deadly landslide had blocked a major highway leaving them stranded.
The holidaymakers were returning to the Nepalese capital on the weekend after hiking expeditions in Tibet when heavy rains triggered the landslide blocking the Araniko highway in Sindhupalchowk district, forcing them to take shelter in Tatopani area.
More than 400 hikers and their guides were picked up by helicopters and brought to Kathmandu yesterday and another 200 people were moved out today, said Ramesh Dhamala, President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN).
A 500-metre hill suddenly collapsed early Saturday morning blocking the Sunkoshi river and forming a huge lake.
More than 50 houses were swept away in the three villages of the district, some 80 km east of Kathmandu.
Officials say, at least 33 people have been confirmed dead and more than 130 are still missing.
Meanwhile, the government has announced Rs 40,000 as relief to the family members of the deceased.
The disaster has also sparked fears of flash floods downstream -- including in six neighbouring districts in eastern Nepal and also in Bihar.
Nepal Army has carried out controlled explosions in the area to drain out the water.
Hundreds of local people have been shifted to safer places after the landslide.
Rescue and search operations are still on.
