British tourist feared drowned in Nepal lake

KATHMANDU - A 48-year-old British tourist is feared to have drowned in a Nepal lake after workers failed to find him even a day after his boat accident.

The tourist police in Pokhara, a sunny city west of Kathmandu and a favourite tourist destination, told IANS that divers were still searching the waters of Fewa Lake for Graem Budge, who fell into the lake Monday evening.

Budge, a Scot, and his companion, 33-year-old William Munro, had hired a boat to row across the lake to a nearby garden and restaurant Monday, police said.

While returning to their hotel from there, Budge, who according to police had a couple of drinks and was moving around in the boat oared by Munro, caused it to capsize.

While Munro was rescued soon afterwards, Budge could not be found.

Police said the search was called off around 10 Monday night and resumed Tuesday.

The boat accident, coming after three Japanese climbers perished while attempting a high peak in northern Nepal earlier this weak, casts a pall of gloom on the government’s recently started campaign to promote Nepal as a tourism destination next year when the country hopes to draw a million tourists.

Though Nepal remains one of the safest destinations in the world despite a 10-year insurgency, occasionally uncertain climate and political instability tend to throw travellers’ plans out of gear.

Most of the accidents at the Fewa Lake are caused by tourists flouting safety concerns, though Nepal tourism authorities have been urging visitors to adhere to safety guidelines.