Search Team Heads To Himalayas To Locate Indonesian Citizens

Kathmandu, Nepal, May 2 (Antara) -- The Indonesian search and rescue team in Nepal left for the Dunche region in the Himalayas on Saturday to look for three missing Indonesian citizens who went there for mountaineering. The three Indonesian citizens from Bandung, West Java, were Alma Parahita, Kadek Andana and Jeroen Hehuwat. According to the chairman of the search team for the Dunche region, Krishna Djunaedi, the decision to look for the Indonesian citizens in that area was based on the last communication with the Taruna Hiking Club (THC) that the three climbers, who wanted to go to Langtang, had joined. "We will gather information from local people and climbers who have descended the mountain, as well as from other people in Dunche," Djunaedi said. Djunaedi also serves as the deputy director of the Indonesian Citizens Protection Division and the Indonesian Law Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The deployed team comprises personnel from the Indonesian Air Force Special Troops, including First Sergeant Sujianto, Private Edi Sunaryo, and Private Dwi Haryanto, as well as members of the THC, Agung Adjana and Sofyan Arif. The squad departed for the Kalikasthan region, which is a 5 to 6 hour drive from Kathmandu and the last point accessible by a vehicle. They will then head to the Nepal Military Base in Dunche on foot, which will take 7 to 8 hours. Djunaedi further noted that the team will stay in Dunche till next Sunday and continue their search in the Bokejhunda region. They will return to Kalikasthan next Monday and then head back to Kathmandu. Moreover, Commander of the Indonesian Air Force Team to Nepal Lieutenant Colonel Indan Gilang stated that their mission was to locate the citizens. The team led by Gilang will use a rented helicopter in several places, including in Langtang, Kyanjin Gompa and Dunche, to try to locate the missing Indonesians. The aerial search was planned to be held last Friday, but was delayed due to issues with renting a helicopter.