KATHMANDU: Air travel has been disrupted due to adverse weather conditions, particularly low visibility affecting flights from Kathmandu to various remote areas.
Jagannath Niraula, General Manager of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), stated that flights to Lukla have been grounded due to heavy rain.
He noted, “Bad weather has impacted flights in remote areas, although services in the Sugam area are operating regularly.”
Currently, only instrument flight rules (IFR) flights are being conducted at TIA, as visual flight rules (VFR) flights cannot operate under these conditions.
The airport office reported that many tourists, having walked to their destinations, are stranded due to the flight disruptions.
While flights from Kathmandu to the Terai region are operating as scheduled, most flights to remote areas remain suspended.
Despite the general disruptions to domestic flights, international flights continue to operate normally.
According to the Weather Forecasting Division, a combination of westerly winds, local winds, and a low-pressure system around West Bengal, India, is contributing to the weather conditions.
The forecast indicates partly cloudy to generally cloudy skies in the hilly regions, with clearer conditions in other areas.
Light to moderate rain, along with thunderstorms, is expected in parts of the Bagmati and Gandaki hilly regions, as well as isolated areas in the Terai.
Light rain is currently occurring in various locations within the Kathmandu Valley.
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