Tourists get stuck in Humla after heavy snows

BY RAJAN RAWAT,Humla, Oct. 15: Twenty-two domestic tourists have been stranded for the past four days in Takchi and Tumling after heavy snowfall blocked the road near Nyaluk Lake in Namkha Rural Municipality-6, Humla district.

According to reports, the group, along with five Bolero jeeps, has been stuck in Takchi since the snowfall made the Nyaluk road impassable. 

Pawan Rokaya of Simkot Rural Municipality-5, who is among the stranded tourists, said they had been managing with great difficulty as hotels in Takchi and Tumling were the only available shelters.

Heavy snowfall occurred in the area on October 9 and 10. Situated at an altitude of around 5,000 metres, Nyaluk is a remote region where weather conditions can quickly turn severe. Rokaya said they were on their way from Lapcha to view Mount Kailash and Mansarovar when sudden snowfall blocked the road, forcing all 22 tourists to take refuge in Takchi.

He added that the group had originally planned a three-day trip, but being stuck longer has caused financial strain, forcing them to rely on borrowed money from local hotel owners. Of the 22 tourists, eight have left for Hilsa via Halji village in Limi after staying a night there, while the remaining 14 continue to wait in Takchi. The group heading to Hilsa plans to return to Simkot via Nara Lake.

Deputy Superintendent of Armed Police Force, Kabindra Maharjan of Armed Police Force No. 44 Battalion, said that the road near Nyaluk Lake had been completely blocked by three to four feet of snow, halting all traffic movement. He added that snow removal work using an excavator from Limi will begin on Tuesday, after which efforts will be made to reopen the road and rescue the stranded tourists.