Well-equipped rescue centre along Annapurna trekking trail

Pokhara, Nov 1 : A well-equipped rescue centre has been established along a trekking trail leading to Annapurna Mountain.

Supported by Korean telecom, the project located in the main entrance to the base camp of Machhapuchchhre Mountain aims to deal with trekking problems, said Sheshkanta Poudel, chief administrative officer of Annapurna rural municipality, Kaski.

The project cost approximately Rs 150 million.

A drone camera available for the centre is used to rescue tourists in case of their missing and being trapped due to various reasons, said Poudel. A drone camera will be used to locate tourists missing or trapped due to various reasons and rescue teams would be mobilised accordingly, he added.

The drone camera can fly from the base camps of Machhapuchchhre Mountain and Annapurna Mountain and their vicinity, according to Poudel. It can carry medicines weighing up to 10 kilograms at a time.

The centre would additionally provide security to tourists visiting the area, said Yubraj Kunwar, chair of the rural municipality. High priority has been accorded to security and safety of tourists visiting the area, he said.

Last year, the total 98,000 tourists, both foreign and domestic, toured the area. Of them, 130 faced various types of difficulties in course of their visit, resulting in the death of seven.