Tekendra Deuba

Dipayal, February 7:

Heavy snowfall and rain for the past two days has affected life in the far western hilly districts.

The residential areas in upper hilly region are covered with three to five feet snow. Not only the upper parts but even the low hilly areas are coloured white with snow. Traffic could not resume due to heavy snowfall. The locals are finding it difficult even to walk and mule services have come to a standstill in rural areas.

The passenger buses which had left last Sunday from the far western hilly districts could not move ahead due to two feet snow in Dadeldhura’s Hakulte area. As a result, dozens of passengers have been stranded. The hilly districts in far western region – Doti, Bajura, Dadeldhura, Achham, Baitadi, Bajhang and Darchula – are located on high altitude.

According to a report from Bajura, snowfall has covered the district headquarters Martadi and 20 out of the 28 VDCs have been badly affected. There was a snowstorm in Dadeldhura district and more than two dozen VDCs in Doti district are covered with snow. Old cattle is dying due to severe cold, said Dhan Singh Batala, a local, of Kadamandaun VDC in Doti.

There is continuous snowfall and rain. This is probably the heaviest snowfall received so far in the far western hilly districts, said elderly residents.