Why did the fake rescue incident, which has been going on for years, remain a secret for so long? How did it embarrass the Nepali tourism sector internationally? And what are the undisclosed facts about the fake rescue incident?
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The issue of fake rescues in the tourism sector to extract money by claiming insurance was not new to Nepalis. After the Central Investigation Bureau of the Police recently arrested some people involved in such fake work, it became public how fake rescues were carried out by helicopters when tourists were stranded, in natural disasters or accidents during trekking and mountaineering in the high hills and mountains, and how serious this incident was. Why did the fake rescue incident that has been going on for years remain a secret for so long? How was it embarrassing the Nepali tourism sector internationally? And what are the undisclosed facts about the fake rescue incident? We have tried to explain it in five questions and answers.
What exactly is a fake rescue?
Nepal is rich in high-altitude and mountainous areas. The mainstay of Nepali tourism is also the mountainous and mountainous areas. It is common for tourists to get lost or encounter natural disasters or accidents while trekking in these areas. In such cases, tourists are rescued by helicopter, which is considered normal.
However, in Nepal, some individuals and organizations have forcibly rescued tourists by helicopter even if they have a simple problem, repeatedly claim insurance for the same flight, and collect ‘large amounts’ from insurance companies by preparing fake documents. This is called ‘fake rescue’ or fake rescue.
How did this incident become public?
A formal study on fake rescue began in 2075. After the incidents of fraud in the name of fake rescues continued, the then Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari formed a special investigation task force under the leadership of the current Finance Secretary Ghanshyam Upadhyay through a ministerial decision. The task force prepared a report by ‘confirming with evidence the suspicion that travel, trekking, rescue companies, hospitals, helicopter companies and insurance companies were colluding to collect insurance payments by showing excessive expenses.’
In fact, Minister Adhikari was forced to form a task force for the investigation by a foreign company called ‘Traveler Assist’. This company had written to the government several times, accusing it of ‘some Nepali tourism entrepreneurs cheating in helicopter rescues’ and asking for an investigation.
The then Tourism Minister Adhikari formed the task force after the company threatened to make the emails public in the media.
Why was this incident kept secret for years?
The task force’s report had named only some hospitals and some airlines involved in fake rescues. And, it was sent to the Police Headquarters via the Home Ministry for further investigation. However, due to increasing pressure from some airline companies through the then Prime Minister, it was kept secret. The tourism ministers after Adhikari also did not ‘follow up’ on it.
What impact will this incident have on Nepal’s international image?
After the fake rescue incident became public, negative news started to be published in the international media about it. After that, the insurance fees of tourists coming to Nepal increased drastically, and some foreign companies stopped providing insurance services to Nepal. This not only had a serious impact on Nepal’s tourism image, but the Prime Minister, ministers and high-ranking officials of Nepal also had to face questions from the media while participating in foreign programs.
What are the facts that remain to be revealed in the investigation of this incident?
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the police is also conducting an investigation based on the report of the task force . According to CIB Chief Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Manoj KC, since investigating old incidents is also a matter of time limit, rescue flight incidents from 2022 to 2025 have now been examined.
He said that the investigation so far has shown that 171 out of 1,248 tourists rescued by Mountain Rescue Service Pvt. Ltd., 75 out of 471 tourists rescued by Nepal Chartered Service, and 71 out of 601 tourists rescued by Everest Experience were suspicious.
‘It seems that this crime was committed by submitting details of rescues from another place after obtaining permission for one area, using fake documents, and preparing separate rescue bills for two/three people rescued at the same time,’ KC said. ‘Emails have also been received from insurance companies raising questions.’
According to him, the CIB has formed a task force and has been investigating this matter for 2 and a half months. In the initial phase, the rescue company has come under the scope of investigation, and now the police say that the investigation will gradually reach the helicopter and the hospital.
‘It seems that the people in this company are also connected to the helicopter and the hospital, during the detailed investigation, people at that level also come under the scope of investigation,’ KC added, ‘In the first phase, the rescue companies have come under the scope of investigation.’
