Romanian trekker missing in Nepal trekking trail

POKHARA: A Romanian trekker has gone missing for over one week in the Annapurna region.

Popescu Adina Monica (26) is out of contact since July 14, spokesperson of the Kaski District Police Office, DSP Gaju Sidhhi Bajracharya informed.

It has been learned that she was last seen in Chomrung of the district on the day.

A team of police has been deployed to find her whereabouts, according to police.

She had arrived Nepal on July 11 on a week-long trek and was scheduled to arrive in Bucharest, the Romanian capital, on July 18.

After she did not arrive home as scheduled, her kin back in Romania had inquired the airline company to find that she had not boarded the plane till then.

Later, they had also requested the Kathmandu-based Romanian Embassy for the search.

On July 12, Popescu had sent a photo of her trekking to her family.

Experts, choppers and sniffer dogs have been deployed for the search, according to police.

Chairperson of Pokhara-based Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association, Ram Charndra Sharma, said Popescu was trekking alone and she had not taken support from any trekking agency.

Both the central and regional offices of TAAN have posted a request on their Facebook pages to help search for the missing trekker.

Meanwhile, Popescu's friend and colleague, Elena Dobre, has started collecting funds through the FundRazr.com to aid the police for her search.

As of July 23, Dobre has collected USD 2,750. She has stated that she needs a total of USD 40,000 for the search.

Marketizator, the company for which the missing woman was working, has also decided to award the one who could rescue her.