Kathmandu, October 28 (Udaipur Kiran): Heavy snowfall in Nepal’s Himalayan region has stranded thousands of tourists, most of them Indian, in the Muktinath area of Mustang district. What began as rain on Monday night turned into intense snowfall on Tuesday morning, disrupting movement across the region.
According to Vishnu Prasad Bhusal, Chief District Officer of Mustang, the snowfall is expected to continue until Wednesday, as per the latest forecast by the Nepal Meteorological Department.
The district administration has advised tourists and trekkers to avoid travel to Muktinath and surrounding areas until the weather improves. “Those who are currently stranded in and around the Muktinath area should remain in safe locations until Wednesday,” the official advisory stated.
Officials said around 15,000 tourists, mostly Indian pilgrims, were present in the Muktinath region on Monday for temple visits. They have been advised not to undertake any vehicular or trekking journeys until conditions stabilize.
Meanwhile, northern parts of Gorkha district have also experienced heavy snowfall since early Tuesday, with snow accumulation reaching five to six feet in some border villages. Locals reported severe disruption to daily life.
Residents of Chumnubri village, near the Chinese border, said that public movement and essential services have been brought to a standstill. “We were warned about snowfall, but no one expected it to be this heavy,” said Pasang Phunjo Lama, a local villager.
The Nepal Meteorological Department has issued warnings of continued snowfall in the northern regions of Gandaki, Karnali, and Lumbini provinces until Wednesday. The department attributed the sudden change in weather to a low-pressure system developing over the Arabian Sea, which is affecting Nepal’s climate.
Additionally, continuous rainfall across most parts of the country is expected for the next three days, the department said in its advisory.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.