KATHMANDU: The locusts that first entered Nepal on June 27 are struggling against their lives as their journey towards colder north has turned fatal for themselves.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) sources, the swarm of locusts that went north has turned too weak to harm anything due to the cold weather there.

“The swarm of locusts that have reached to Mustang is in such fragile health that it’s unable to fly on the tree boughs,” Ram Krishna Subedi, the information officer at Plan Quarantine and Pesticides Management Center said, “The swarm has not only failed to fly up to the tree and rest there, but also become too weak to eat as well due to the cold.”

He said that the locusts could have regained the strength had the wind blown from the north, but as the wind is blowing from east to west there is least chance for them to return.

Subedi calculated that there could be around 200-300 thousand still alive in the groups heading towards north.

However, he did not deny the possibility of the arrival of other swarms from India.

The locust that entered Nepal first from Rautahat on June 27 had reached 54 districts and had caused some damages in 27 districts.

The agro-experts claim that the locusts are still active in 6-7 districts though their health is worsening.