Snowfall in Chhekempar, northern Gorkha, affects daily life

By Gun Bahadur Roka

Sulikot, January 15: Snowfall has occurred in Chhekempar, located in Northern Gorkha. Local youth Tsering Lama of Chumanubri Rural Municipality-7 reported that snow fell continuously from Monday to Tuesday morning, affecting daily life in the area. According to him, the snowfall has severely disrupted the lives of the locals. “It has become too cold to step outside. Around 300 households in Chhekempar are now blanketed in snow,” he said.

Despite the snowfall and biting cold, farmers in the area are happy as the snowfall benefits agricultural activities. The snow moistens the dry soil, making it more fertile and productive, which has brought joy to the local farmers. However, for the general population, life has become difficult.

The snowfall has frozen water sources, causing drinking water shortages in the areas. According to the Chairperson of Chumanubri Rural Municipality Nima Lama, the cold has particularly affected the elderly and children. Similarly, livestock are facing challenges due to a lack of grass for grazing.

The snowfall has also impacted some internal and international tourists travelling along the Manaslu Circuit. Trekkers in the Manaslu region have been unable to proceed beyond Chhekempar, according to the Gorkha office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP).

Chairperson Lama said that this is the first time Chhekempar has experienced continuous snowfall from Monday night to Tuesday morning. Although situated at an altitude of approximately 3,500 metres above sea level, the area had not experienced such snowfall before, Lama added.