Pokhara, April 27

The family of Ashok Rai, a porter, of Dhankuta who died due to altitude sickness during a trekking expedition about three months ago, received one million rupees in compensation today.

Rai’s wife Santati received the insurance amount, which was collected at the initiative of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal. Her husband Ashok had accompanied four Korean tourists and as many helpers on a trek to Annapurna Circuit from Pokhara-based Essence Tours and Travel on January 12.

Ashok had returned halfway through the expedition after experiencing health complications. “Everything was fine until they reached the High Camp on January 21, when he experienced difficulty breathing and returned to lower altitude the next day. As he lost his consciousness on the way, locals found him and gave him shelter,” said Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal Western Regional Association Pokhara chair Deepak Raj Adhikari.

Further, Adhikari informed that a chopper from Pokhara had airlifted him to Pokhara. “We had brought him to Western Regional Hospital of Pokhara on January 23 for treatment, but to no avail. He was pronounced dead the same day,” he said.

According to Adhikari, it is the first case when compensation has been paid for the death of a labourer involved in trekking expedition.