BAJURA/ DHANGADI, FEBRUARY 4
Hilly and mountainous districts have been receiving heavy rainfall in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces since last evening. Freezing cold triggered by heavy snowfall has thrown normal life out of gear.
Incessant snow has obstructed highways and roads in hilly districts of Sudurpaschim Province. Heavy snow has obstructed the Bhimdatta Highway in Dadeldhura, Jayaprithivi Highway that connects Baitadi with Bajhang and Bajura's Martadi Kolti road. Snowfall has halted people's movement and disrupted telecommunication service in some districts.
Incessant snowfall has caused the mercury level to nosedive. Excessive cold has hit life hard at Bajura's Martdai, Mugu's Gamgadhi, Bajhang's Chainpur and Humla's Simikot, among other places. "Bone-chilling cold has thrown normal life out of gear," said District Administration Office, Bajura.
Snowfall has disrupted flights from Nepalgunj to Bajura, Humla, Dolpa, Mugu. Likewise, flights from Dhangadi to hilly districts have also been cancelled. "All flights to Bajura, Achham, Bajhang, Baitadi from Dhangadhi have been cancelled," said Dhangadi Airport.
Four local levels in Bajura, Humla, Mugu, Bajhang, Darchula and some other hilly and mountainous districts have become contactless.
Lack of charge on solar batteries installed on telecom towers has disrupted telecommunication service in the hilly districts, said Nepal Telecom Bajura Office. Disruption in telephone line and internet services has affected works of many people.
The extreme cold has forced people to migrate to lowlands from highlands of Bajhang and Darchula.
Freezing cold has affected the second phase of COVID vaccination drive at schools in Bajura. Patients of cold, fever and common cold have gone up due to bone-chilling cold in Karnali's Humla, Mugu, Jumla and Kalikot.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 5, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
