Solukhumbu, June 18: The disruption
of flight at the Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla have stressed out the
tourists.
Adverse weather caused disruption
of flight for ten days. The tourists visiting the Khumbu region have been badly
affected by the inconvenience in air service.
Air controller at Civil Aviation
Authority of Nepal (CAN) at Lukla, Divas Dahal, informed that the fog and poor
visibility disturbed air services. Both the aeroplanes and helicopters were not
able to conduct flights since June 8.
"It is the time the foreign
tourists retuned to Kathmandu after travel to the Sagarmatha area. The number
of tourists leaving the district is more than arrivals. But adverse weather
took a toll on air service," Dahal added. All flight schedules are
cancelled for ten days. Thick fog has caused poor visibility.
However, Dahal informed that some helicopters
were operated from Surke helipad located down Lukla. Geographical specificity
is a problem for Lukla where dense fog occurs frequently this season, according
to him.
Surke is relatively clear.
Similarly, after four-hour trek
down the Lukla airport, the travellers can get vehicles for Kathmandu. It is
also the option for the tourists to ride from Thamdanda to Kathmandu in
jeep.
Thamdanda lies 70-km away from
Salleri bazaar, district headquarters of Solukhumbu.
Rs 2,000 per person is the fare in
a jeep ride from Salleri to Kathmandu, a 275-km distance. (RSS)