Manang, December 8

With the mercury plummeting, residents of Manang have started migrating outside the district to avoid the freezing cold.

Local people have started moving to city areas and bazaars to dodge the chill for three months. Majority of locals have migrated to other districts and bazaar areas with necessary food, clothes and money. Chame Rural Municipality Chair Lokendra Ghale said that locals had left the district earlier this year to avoid the cold.

Around 50 per cent people of four rural municipalities leave the district to avoid the cold for three months. They especially move to Lamjung’s Besisahar, Chitwan and Kathmandu.

“District residents leave their homes and live outside the district for three months to keep themselves warm for the three cold months,” Yangdung Gurung of Pisang said, adding, “Since we do not have farm work for three months, people keep attendants at home and leave the district.”

Locals also said drinking water had started to freeze.

Government staffers and locals light fire to keep themselves warm even during day time during the winter.