The Department of Tourism has imposed a ban on operation of Daman-based Everest Panorama Resort for three months based on the report submitted by a probe committee formed to investigate the death of eight Indian tourists in the resort on January 27.

The department on Sunday decided to shut down the resort as the report submitted by the probe committee pointed out poor security management and managerial weakness at the resort as the reason behind the incident.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had formed the probe committee under Surendra Thapa, the director of the Department of Tourism. After a field inspection, the committee had submitted its report a few days ago, pointing out the shortcomings of the resort. The report also states that the resort is not registered with the Department of Tourism.

Khem Raj Joshi, a section officer at the department, said that a secretary-level meeting decided to take action against the resort. The resort has been shut down temporarily as per Clause 15 of Tourism Act 1978, he added.

The letter sent to the resort, however, states that the resort can be operated after three months if it abides by the existing laws and meets the standards set by the department.

Eight Indians, including four children, who were found unconscious at the resort in Thaha Municipality Ward No. 4 in Makwanpur, were declared dead after they were airlifted to Hams Hospital in Kathmandu. Questions were raised about the security arrangement and safety at the hotel as the tourists had died of suffocation from gas heaters used in their room that night.

Everest Panorama Resort was established 28 years ago in Daman Simbhajyang area, a tourist destination in Bagmati Province. The tourist numbers, according to Thaha Hotel Association, have plunged after the tragic accident of January 27.

“We will work towards meeting the standards fixed by the department and run the resort efficiently. We are saddened by the tragic incident. We will ensure that such incidents don’t occur in the future,” said Sudesh Gautam, the operator of the resort.