LAMJUNG: Manang locals have started to migrate to lower regions with heavy snowfall and dip in temperature in the higher region of the district.

With the start of snowfall in the upper regions of the district, people started to migrate to lower regions to avoid the severe cold, lack of pasture land to graze their animals and difficulties to herd the animals in the winter season, informed a local yak herder Karma Lama.

According to locals, people in the region usually maintain two kharka (place to house cattle), in the upper and lower regions, keeping in mind the varying weather conditions.

During the three winter months -- November, December and January -- people migrate to lower regions including Taragaun, Dharapani, Danakui in the district along with their domesticated animals that are herded in the upper region in the summer season, for grazing, added local Asmita Gurung. 

"The pastures up there are covered with snow during the winter season forcing us to move down to warmer regions," added Gurung.

According to the chairperson of Chame Rural Municipality, Lokendra Ghale, people migrate back to the upper regions at the end of February.