Tough lads those Gurkas.....

The Foreign Office has paid tribute to the British Gurkhas who rescued 109 UK nationals and 28 other nationals stranded in remote parts of Nepal.

Disclosing details of the mission which took place last month, the government said they travelled more than 4,000 miles through the Himalayas to 13 different districts, negotiating river crossings and landslides, to reach the tourists scattered across dozens of mountainous towns, villages and national parks.

In some instances the soldiers had to set up camp on the side of the road overnight to reach the tourists.

One, Sgt Prakash Gurung, drove nine and a half hours solo to Manang in the north west of the country. The journey was almost aborted due to a landslide.

“I stepped up to volunteer because I thought it was a part of my job. Helping people in dire situations gives me a sense of satisfaction. The gratitude people expressed in messages has encouraged me to do more of this sort of work,” said Gurung who is based in a barracks in Folkestone, Kent.

The UK ambassador in Nepal, Nicola Pollitt, said 700 British travellers were brought home with the help of the Gurkas.

Posted By: DrDublin, May 8, 12:32:34