DHANGADHI/ BAJURA, FEBRUARY 05

With the sudden change in weather, heavy snowfall compounded with a chilling cold since last evening has affected the daily lives of people residing in upper areas of Sudurpaschim Province, including Bajura, Baitidi, Doti, Darchula, Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, among others.

According to the District Police Office, Baitaidi, snow has blanketed Aarankholi, Khodpe and Sathbaj areas along the Dasrath Chand Highway and Khodpe-Bajhang road section of Jayprithvi Highway in the district, obstructing vehicular movement.

Likewise, heavy fall blanketed upper areas of Bajhang district including Saipala Rural municipality, Surma rural municipality, Chabispathibhera rural municipality, and Bangal municipality among others. Similarly, Api, Rapla, Ghusa, Khandeshwori, Chingru, Byas, Tikar in Darchula received heavy snowfall.

According to local representatives in Doti, normal life was thrown out of gear due to heavy snowfall in upper hilly areas in the district.

'Silgadhi, district headquarters of Doti, and adjoining areas including Swada, Machintola, Goladeu, Vigrarana among others were also blanked in snow,' informed District Police Office (DPO), Chief, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Indra Malla.

Meanwhile, army personnel deputed to guard the Khaptad National Park are facing difficulty in patrolling the park which has been covered with more than two inches of snow.

Likewise, snowfall has also brought happiness in the face of farmers contradictory to local traders as vehicular movement was halted due to obstruction on major highways.

Heavy snowfall at Porakhe area along Martardi-Kolti road section has brought down the movement of vehicles to a standstill in Bajura district.

Local traders were worried about the shortage of food in the area as essential goods are transported from Martardi, the district headquarters, as the heavy snowfall coupled with rainfall would damage the rural road and block the road section at Porkhe area along the highway.

Upper areas in the province including Badimalika municipality, Budinanda municipality, Triveni municipality, Gaumul rural municipality, Swamikartik rural municipality, Pandavgufa rural municipality, Himali rural municipality have been receiving snow since yesterday whereas the lower region has been receiving rainfall for the last two days.

Snowfall coupled with chilling cold has affected the teaching and learning activities in the region.

Meanwhile, locals have been confined to their homes due to dip in the temperature.