Mustang sees season's first snowfall; travelers urged to take precaution

Mustang, Oct 28: Mustang has experienced this season's first snowfall since the morning today. 

The District Administration Office stated that it started snowing from the morning at Korala checkpoint in Upper Mustang, Muktinath region and in Lomanthang rural municipality. 

Chief District Officer Bishnu Prasad Bhusal said rainfall accompanied by snowfall is taking place in Upper Mustang's Lomanthang-2 Chhosar, Korlanaka, and Muktinath areas, as well as in the highlands of Upper and Lower Mustang.  

Similarly, Rabin Subedi, an employee of the Muktinath Development Committee, said that it has snowed in the Muktinath area, adding continuous snowfall from early morning has caused problems for devotees visiting the temple.

According to Lopsang Chomphel Bista, Chairperson of Logheker Damodarkund Rural Municipality, snowfall is occurring in the upper reaches of Logheker Damodarkunda and there has been partial snowfall near the settlement along with rain.

“This year it snowed in Kartik month. There was no snowfall here for the past two to three years. Snowfall is very beneficial for farmers as it significantly supports the crops they have sown,” said Chairman Bista.

Similarly, Ward Chairperson Pramesh Gurung said that heavy snowfall has occurred in high-altitude villages of Baragung, including Khinga, Jhong, Chhengur, and Phalyak. He mentioned that with the snowfall, the cold has increased significantly, affecting the daily life of the local people.

Meanwhile, the District Administration Office has requested people not to travel from Baragung Muktichhetra-4 Kagbeni to Muktinath. It stated that there is a risk of road accidents due to heavy snowfall on that road, and pilgrims going to visit Muktinath Temple are being urged not to travel in such situation.

He stated that due to thick snow accumulation on the roads at Kalobhir, Khinga, Jharkot and other places on the Kagbeni–Muktinath road section, travellers have been requested not to take vehicles.

Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp halted; tourists brought to Narchyang and Bhurung Tatopani

Likewise, a report from Myagdi stated that tourists visiting the tourism areas in Myagdi and Mustang have faced difficulties after the occurrence of snowfall accompanied by light rain.

Since last night, there has been light rain in the hilly areas of those districts and snowfall in the higher areas.

"There is snow accumulation on the roads and trails, making it impossible to operate vehicles or to walk. Tourists have not gone out of where they are staying due to the risk. We have also urged them not to go out," said Pramesh Gurung, the ward chairman.

Tej Gurung, a hotel entrepreneur at Humkhola, located at the entrance of the Maurice Herzog Trail leading to Annapurna Base Camp, stated that there has been no movement on the trail since early this morning. 

"While about five hundred tourists used to come daily, only around two hundred came on Monday," he said. "Due to rain and snowfall, today's trek has been postponed."

Lok Bahadur Pun, the ward chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, said that they managed and facilitated the travel of visitors until 12:00 midnight, stating tourists who reached Annapurna Base Camp via the Maurice Herzog Trail had been dropped off at Narchyang and Bhurung Tatopani. 

Dambar Bahadur Pun, a hotel owner in Ghodepani, informed that tourists had suspended their trekking due to bad weather and were waiting for favourable weather for their further travel plan.  (RSS)