Cyclone Arnab strands 250 tourists in the Kanchenjunga region

Approximately 250 domestic and international travellers trekking through the Kanchenjunga region found themselves stranded midway after adverse weather conditions developed across the area. The weather disruption was linked to Cyclone Arnab, which formed in the Bay of Bengal, bringing cloudy conditions to Taplejung alongside snowfall in higher mountain zones and light rainfall. According to tourism activist Hemraj Niraula, around 250 domestic and foreign visitors were staying in settlements and hotels across the region, particularly in Olangchungola, Ghunsa and Yamphudin. Niraula stated that about 60 domestic and international travellers were staying in local hotels. Photojournalist Rajiv Limbu, who was trekking to the Kanchenjunga base camp, reported that all hotels in the Ghunsa area were fully occupied by domestic and foreign visitors. Reports indicated that local residents had also been alerted while authorities carefully assessed the weather conditions.