Heavy snowfall affects tourists, locals in Khumbu area

Solukhumbu, April 28: Heavy snowfall has been taking place in the Khumbu area in the Solukhumbu district since Sunday, affecting normal life.

Tourists and residents have been facing problems with their mobility due to the heavy snowfall. Senior Vice-Chairperson of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Karma Sherpa, who is in the Khumbu area, said tourists who are in the Gopyo area are in trouble due to the disruption of the trekking route following the snowfall.

“The snow has covered the road. Some of the tourists heading for trekking have faced hardships in advancing. However, the number of people being affected by the snowfall has not been ascertained,” he added. Meanwhile, an American tourist, who went trekking in the Sagarmatha area, is out of contact.

Chairperson of Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, Lamakaji Sherpa, said the 63-year-old US citizen had entered the check post of the Sagarmatha National Park on Wednesday. He has been out of contact since then, it is said. Search teams have faced difficulties in locating the American national due to snowfall.

Likewise, expeditions to Mt Everest have also been affected and most of the climbers have stayed in the base camp. The local administration and concerned authorities have been coordinating the rescue and management, keeping the safety of tourists and locals of affected areas in priority.