Dhading, April 26

A Taiwanese national, who went missing, along with his companion, more than 45 days ago while on the way to Langtang in Rasuwa, was found alive today, but his friend was found dead.

The two, who were not accompanied by any guide, were heading towards Langang through Dhading’s Tipling and Pangsang Pass about two months ago.

A team led by Dawa Tamang deployed for searching the missing tourists on behalf of the Ganesh Himal Tourism Development Committee, had traced them. The rescue team found Liang trapped on a precipice after his friend’s body was found. They are suspected to have fallen off the cliff.

Earlier, kin of the missing trekkers had requested the government of Nepal to search for them.  According to police, documents show they had permission to enter Langtang National Park on February 21.

The Taiwanese nationals had taken a route through Dhading district headquarters and stayed at a home stay facility in Labdung of Tipling for three days till March 8, a day before heavy snowfall battered northern villages, including Tipling, which is at an altitude of 2,200 metres.

A team of three rescuers from Kathmandu-based Asian Trekking spotted the couple in a cave near the Narchet River at an altitude of 2,600 m this afternoon. “They appeared to be sleeping inside a cave,” Madhav Basnet, who was one of three rescuers, said. “But only Liang was found alive.”

Simrik Air chopper conducted a long line rescue to airlift them to Kathmandu.

“I feel relaxed now but can’t recall the last 47 days,” Liang, 21, told this daily from a hospital bed in Kathmandu where he is undergoing treatment. Liang told rescuers that Liu died three days ago. “We ran out of food, but I managed to survive on drinking water,” Basnet quoted the man as saying.

Liu’s body has been kept at TU Teaching hospital for post-mortem, according to Ang Tshering Sherpa, managing director, Asian Trekking. “After a successful rescue, Liang has got a second lease of life,” he said.

Earlier, Liang’s parents had visited the area to search for them. His parents will be arriving in Kathmandu on Friday, according to Sherpa.

Dr Sanjaya Karki of Grande International Hospital said all medical tests were being carried out and Liang was out of danger.