Ratne Nepali of Jubitha, Kalikot died in Nagma on the border of Mugu and Jumla districts early Saturday morning while bringing mules from Rara to Mugu, reports our Jumla correspondent Tufan Neupane. Rastra Bahadur Thapa, sub inspector at the Area Police Office, Hantsinja said Nepali died of cold as he slept on the road during night. Three mules also died along with Nepali, who was hired to take care of mules owned by one Sarjan Shahi of Kalikakhetu, Jumla. [break]
All flights to hills of mid-western and far western regions from Nepalgunj to Surkhet have been canceled due to adverse weather conditions. Snowfall affected life in Karnali zone with Jumla Airport being shut down indefinitely. There have been reduced activities in the markets while schools and transportation have also been affected.
Likewise, Jajarkot also received heavy snowfall following persistent rain throughout Friday, according to our correspondent Janak KC.
People in the district headquarters and villages in the eastern and northern part of the district have been hit by excessive cold following heavy snowfall while farmers waiting for precipitation have heaved a sigh of relief.
“We feared that there would be no rainfall. But mother nature has responded to our pleas and we are all delighted,” said an ecstatic Dal Bahadur Dangi of Khalanga-9, Kalegaun following the timely rainfall for wheat crops. “We feared a drought but have been relieved after the rainfall,” concurred Karna Bahadur Thapa of Dhime-1, Panchkatiya.
The precipitation may have come as a relief for farmers but accumulation of snow has hindered collection of fodder and firewood while those working on daily wages have also not been able to earn their daily bread.
Classes have also been hampered due to the snowfall in around a dozen villages including Rangsi, Dinga, Timile in headquarters Khalanga, and Rokayagaun, Ramidanda, Panchkatiya, Pank, Dandagaun, Bhagwati Ragda, Pajaru, Nayakwada, Khagenkot, Archhani and elsewhere.
Acting District Education Officer Yagyeshwar Khatri conceded classes can be hampered due to snowfall and said schools should take decide to give holidays considering the local situation.
Similarly, Mustang has also been hit due to heavy snowfall that started since Friday morning, according to our Baglung correspondent. Many tourists have been stranded due to cancellation of flights to and from Mustang said chief of Mustang Airport Dinesh Joshi.
Meanwhile snowfall has affected life in the northern part of Taplejung district, reports our correspondent Khagendra Adhikari. Locals in Olangchunggola, Yangma, Ghunsha, Khambachhen, Fale and Gyabla have been forced to stay at home due to continuous snowfall, according to former VDC Chairman of Olangchunggola Kipa Sherpa.
Kathmandu chilly due to low maximum temperature
Kathmandu remained chilly on Saturday afternoon. “It felt colder Saturday despite a significantly higher minimum temperature of 7.6 degree Celsius in comparison to two degrees on Friday due to lower maximum temperature,” said meteorologist Sujan Subedi at the Meteorological Forecasting Division, Kathmandu.
While Kathmandu had a maximum temperature of 20.7 degree Friday, it came down to 18 on Saturday. “There was no sun in the afternoon due to the clouds that blew from the western parts,” Subedi explained.
He attributed the heavy snowfall and rainfall mainly in the western parts of the country to the clouds that blew from west. “The temperature will gradually go down from the start of January, but there would be no rainfall in other areas apart from snowfall in the mountain regions for the next few days,” he predicted. He also assured that the cold wave in Tarai will not start anytime soon.
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