BAJURA: Poor weather conditions have affected the search for a journalist who went missing while on a return trek from religious site Budhinanda to Kolti in Bajura district on August 26, authorities said.

Journalist Tej Bahadur Khadka’s whereabouts is still unknown, despite a massive search operation undertaken by Nepal Army and Nepal Police personnel, informed Chief District Officer Chet Raj Baral.

Although the government has directed the law enforcement agencies to conduct an aerial search, poor visibility owing to heavy fog and rain have barred them from flying choppers.

The religious site Budhinanda is situated at an altitude of 4,500 metres above sea level. Journalist Khadka was last seen at 4,100 metres, informed police.

Khadka worked at state-owned Radio Nepal in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu before joining Budhinanda radio station in Kolti, Bajura as a radio jockey.