Five police personnel stranded due to heavy snowfall in upper Dolpa were rescued by a Nepali Army helicopter on Friday. They were airlifted from Dho in Dolpobuddha Rural Municipality, police said.

The rescued officers are Assistant Sub Inspector Devdutta Pandey, Senior Head Constable Maniraj Joshi, Head Constable Janak Bahadur Karki, and constables Nawaraj Bhatta and Narendra Bhatta. All five were stationed at the temporary police post in Nijalgumba of ward 1 of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality. They had been deployed to upper Dolpa in April.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Ruk Bahadur Khadka, chief of the District Police Office, Dolpa, said the officers developed severe swelling in their hands, feet and faces after walking for nearly 36 hours in deep snow and extreme cold while travelling from Naumdo to Dunai via Dho. They were unable to continue on foot, prompting the rescue.

They were brought to the district headquarters in Dunai for initial checks and were later taken to Surkhet for further treatment.

Police officials had instructed the officers to return to Dunai after heavy snowfall made it unsafe to remain in Nijalgumba. The army helicopter was mobilised when the return route became life-threatening due to worsening conditions.

Deputy Inspector General Abi Narayan Kafle, spokesperson for Nepal Police, said personnel facing difficulties on duty are routinely rescued through coordination with the Nepali Army.