ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTPolice said guides allegedly added baking soda to food, causing severe gastrointestinal distress with symptoms mimicking altitude sickness or food poisoning. When trekkers fell ill, the suspects pressured them to accept emergency helicopter evacuations, then submitted fraudulent medical and flight documents to claim insurance payouts, which were shared among guides, helicopter companies, trekking agencies, and hospitals involved. One company allegedly fabricated 171 of 1,248 rescue claims, fraudulently obtaining over US$10 million. Another allegedly faked 75 cases for about US$8 million, while a third submitted 71 false claims worth over US$1 million. Nepal's tourism industry has been plagued by similar scandals in recent years, with some international insurers ceasing coverage for trekkers in the country.

Source: The Standard April 02, 2026 11:07 UTC