Pokhara, April 29:

Hundreds of Indian tourists who had come to visit Muktinath temple in Mustang are stranded in Pokhara.

“A chopper of Manang Airways had flown to Muktinath with some of the tourists. However, it could not return and take other pilgrims due to a technical snag,” Nepal Tours and Travel Agent (NTTA) Western Regional President, Pashupati Sharma, said.

According to Prabina Tandan of Manang Airways, the chopper had been giving trouble since Friday and had been to Muktinath twice after repairs today. In one flight, 12 tourists can reach Muktinath and return the same day if the weather is clear. Tandan said the pilgrims could have been taken to Muktinath in eight sorties had the chopper been free from snags.

“Eighty of the stranded Indian tourists have been camping in New Hotel Crystal for three days, while 62 arrived in the hotel today,” front office in-charge of the hotel, Maheshwor Acharya, said. He said there were 500 Indian tourists in other hotels of Pokhara waiting to go to Muktinath.