Gurkha soldiers based in Kent traversed Himalayan rivers and landslides as they helped rescue more than 100 Brits stranded in remote areas of Nepal.

Corporal Sujan Moktan and Lance corporal Khopjung Gurung jumped into action when tourists exploring the sprawling Asian country were unable to reach charter flights due to send them home.

The determined pair - who are based at the Sir John Moore Barracks in Shorncliffe, Folkestone - spent three weeks on the rescue mission co-ordinated by UK Embassy staff.

They were part of a group of Gurkha soldiers who travelled a combined distance of 4,000 miles through the Himalayas to reach the tourists scattered across dozens of mountainous towns, villages and national parks.

Nepal had enforced strict lockdown measures when the coronavirus crisis broke out, severely reducing transport routes for the travellers.

As a result, soldiers and drivers were forced to set up camp for the night on roadsides because of the long and hazardous journeys.

But after three weeks, all of the 137 stranded tourists were all safely located and brought back to the UK.

Lt Col Peter Wettenhall, deputy commander at British Gurkhas Nepal, said: "British Gurkhas Nepal has a long and proud history of operating in Nepal regardless of circumstance.

"It is both fitting, and in keeping with the role of the Armed Forces that when called on for assistance that we do our very best to support those in need."

Nicola Pollitt, Her Majesty’s ambassador to Nepal, said: "Getting British nationals home in such an unprecedented time is a huge challenge around the world, but in a country like Nepal, with such extreme conditions, it would have been impossible to get everyone back without the close collaboration of the Embassy and British Gurkhas Nepal.

"We have been able to reunite more than 700 British travellers with their families in the UK, and that would not have been possible without the tireless work of our Embassy and Gurkha team."

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