Snowfall and rain bring cold, halt trekking in Nepal's high districts

Locals in Jumla told the paper that Dhangre, Airijhal, Gairigum, Dudhwadi and Dandamakandh, areas of Pansaya Patan, have been receiving heavy snow along with rain. The area lies roughly 24 kilometres from the ward office of Tatopani Rural Municipality-4. In the higher parts of Jajarkot, continued rain and snowfall have brought colder conditions, and herders began moving animals to lower ground once snow started falling on the Chakhure Patan and Kushe Patan pastures in Barekot. The report says families who have lived in temporary shelters since earthquakes damaged their homes are facing extra hardship as rain and cold set in, with water seeping into some shelters and leaving them damp. Children, older people and those who are unwell are described as the most at risk from the cold. In Gorkha, temperatures fell after a brief snowfall on Friday morning at Samdo, in Samagaun of Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1, according to Police Inspector Dinesh Khadka, who is posted at the Samdo border outpost. Snow has been falling above the Manaslu base camp for the past two weeks, affecting attempts to climb the mountain, and trekking on the Manaslu trail has been halted. Snow began in the district's northern areas after heavy rain on Thursday. Upper Manang received rain and snow from early Friday. Pyara Lal Khadkathoki of Mungje said it had been snowing on and off since the morning. Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, who heads the Annapurna Conservation Area Project's area office in Manang, said snow had settled on the hills without significant accumulation in settlements or on trails. Assistant chief district officer Krishna Prasad Paudel said snowfall was reported from Humde, at about 3,300 metres, and above, with rain at lower elevations. As the snowfall risk grows, Manang District Administration Office has stopped all high-altitude trekking between Friday and Sunday. The ban applies to Tilicho Lake, Thorong La Pass, Ice Lake, Kang La Pass and Bhimthang, and tourists already on the routes have been asked to stay in safe places and not move higher. Snow was also seen in settlements of Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality and on ridges above the district headquarters Chame, towards the Lamjung Himal range, Paudel said. “We have asked people not to go trekking for now,” he added.