Ramechhap, December 14

Snowfall since yesterday morning has hit life hard in the upper regions of Ramechhap district. Places such as Gumdel, Bamti, Gupteshwor, Rasnalu and Gaushwara have been hit.

According to Lakpa Sherpa, a local of Gumdel’s Lahachhewar, snowfall accompanied by rain has confined people to their homes. “With snowfall, cold has sharply increased and mostly the children have been hit hard as many of them are suffering from common cold and fever,” said Sherpa.

Gaushwara’s Tej Bahadur Magar said there was heavy snowfall in Gaushwara’s Shailung area and people were having hard time

carrying out business activities. Roads to Mude and Kholakharka have also been blocked due to the snowfall.

Heavy snowfall also occurred in Sankhuwasabha’s northern and southern belts. While over four local bodies have been affected by rain and snowfall since early afternoon, inclement weather has made vehicular movement difficult along Nundhaki’s Gufapokhari road

section. According to locals, snow has piled up to two to five feet in places such as Jaljala, Nundhaki, Makalu, Pawakhola, Hatiya, Kimanthanka and Chepuwa. “Snowfall occurred all of sudden. We’re unable to come out of our houses due to snowfall and the attendant chill,” said Hima Khanal, a local of Guphapokhari, which lies in Nundhaki. “There is snow everywhere and vehicular movement has been obstructed as the roads are covered,” she added.

Meanwhile, extreme weather condition caused by snowfall and rain has disrupted the Bhimdatta Highway that links hilly districts in Sudurpashchim Province.

District Police Office Doti Chief SP Dilipsingh Deuba said the highway’s Sahukharka road section was completely disrupted.  “We’ve sent a dozer from Dipayal to clear the snow-blocked road, but we are not sure whether transportation will resume or when,” said SP Deuba.

With most of the roads blocked in the area, hundreds of vehicles heading towards their destinations along the road have been stranded.