Kathmandu, October 14:

The Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) received advanced snow safety gears with the courtesy of Backcountry Access (BCA) Inc USA, at a function organised yesterday by the Nepal Tourism Board.

“We hope these equipment will be beneficial for the HRA in its rescue operations in the days to come,” said Tek Bahadur Dangi, chief executive officer of NTB. The BCA presented 14 trackers (digital transceiver system), developed by the company itself for locating missing and buried people in avalanches along with shovels, probes and backpackers. “This device can locate the object within a circumference of 50 meter with directional indication and thus there are chances that the injured can be rescued alive,” said Kiran Dangi, an electronic engineer at the BCA.

He said, DTS devices are popular worldwide among climbers, skiers, mountaineers, rescue team and military organisations. However, this is the first time the technology is introduced in Nepali adventure expedition.

Pradeep Gyawali, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, handed over the equipment to Bikram Neupane, president of the association. “We could have benefited the most from the tourism industry but various factors have prevented that from happening in the past. In the changed scenario of the country, I would like to request all not to meddle anymore,” said Minister Gyawali in his speech.