Kristina Kovacevic, a German trekker, has been missing in the Everest region since last two months as the concerned authorities here have not taken any steps for her rescue.

Kristina Kovacevic, a German trekker, has been missing in the Everest region since last two months. Photo Nepalnews)

Kristina Kovacevic, a German trekker, has been missing in the Everest region since last two months. (File Photo)
“I am totally shocked at the way Nepalese government has responded to this matter,” Caroline Stallcup, younger sister of Kristina, who arrived in Kathmandu two days ago in a bid to find her missing sister, said at a press conference in Kathmandu Sunday.

According to Caroline, her sister contacted her from an internet café in Namchebazar, Solukhumbu, on 13th March for the last time. During the conversation Kristina only mentioned about the ensuing political turmoil in Nepal then.

After that she went past Monzo in the Khumbu region where a checkpoint of the Department of Immigration (DoI) is based, which keeps records of foreigners passing by, but unfortunately the checkpoint had been closed at that time owing to the political unrest in the country, she said. No record of her entry could be found at the checkpoint.

Caroline also complained about the behavior of the officials at the DoI when she went there yesterday, seeking help for the rescue of her sister. She said that when she asked to exempt the rescue team of permit fee charged at the Monzo checkpoint, as the rescuers will have to travel to and fro the checkpoint, the director at the DoI rather asked her to contact the Nepal Police, Royal Nepalese Army or the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, who could be in better position to help her.

To her dismay, not only the Nepalese government officials but also the German Embassy in Kathmandu is showing reluctance in helping Caroline find her missing sister. According to her, the German Embassy officials said the matter could be better handled by the Interpol.

German Embassy, she maintains, is obliged to help her in the rescue operation according to the German laws. “My sister is not a criminal to be handled by the Interpol,” she lamented. If the embassy denies help she would take the case to the highest political authority in Germany, she warned.

However, Caroline plans to meet the embassy official on Monday and beg for approval and other necessary help for the rescue operation before she heads for Lukla the next day.

“I have heard about the rescue operation held by the French and the American Embassy and expected same response from our country’s representatives here but they are not being cooperative,” she said.

Having had little experience in trekking, Caroline is determined that she would carry out the rescue mission at any cost and that she would not leave Nepal without finding her.

It’s fine if the Nepalese government or the German Embassy extend help, says she, asserting that he was even prepared to carry out the rescue operation on her own expenses as long as she can.