Himalayan News Service

Hetauda, January 23:

Heavy snowfall has blocked Tribhuvan Highway in Simabhanjyang area of Makawanpur district. It may take a week for the highway to reopen, locals said.

It is the first time that such heavy snowfall was recorded in almost 27 years covering almost 25 km of the highway, said Ram Bahadur Karki, outgoing vice-chairman of Palung VDC.

It had snowed in the area earlier in the week on Tuesday, which had not completely melted. With more snowfall yesterday and today, the highway remained completely blocked today.

The hillocks in the headquarters of Dolakha and Charikot are all snow covered and locals do not rule out tourists making a beeline for these areas to enjoy a round of snow balling.

Merdung, Bailung, Gothapani, Kharidhunga and Bochma VDCs have also received snowfall.

The Lamosanghu-Jiri road sector has also been blocked because of today’s snowfall. A snowfall of three feet has been recorded in the area. Transportation service has thus been suspended, said a local over the telephone.