Passengers stranded on Mid Hill Highway due to snowfall rescued

RUKUM EAST: Passengers stranded on the Mid Hill Highway have been rescued after a heavy snowfall disrupted transportation.

The passengers, traveling in three buses from Rukumpaschim to Kathmandu and other light vehicles, were stranded in the Lukum-Patihalna section of the highway due to a blizzard that began Friday night.

The vehicles were unable to cross the border between Rukumpurba and Baglung districts, forcing passengers to remain in their vehicles for over 24 hours.

Premika Malla, a passenger from Rukumpaschim, shared that they couldn’t leave the bus because there were no hotels nearby. They spent nearly 48 hours without food, she added.

Chief District Officer of Rukumpaschim, Rudra Prasad Neupane, reported that the stranded passengers were rescued after the snow was cleared.

Snow accumulated on a 5-kilometer stretch of the Lukum-Patihalna section and 2 kilometers of the Baglung section was removed by Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force.

Police Inspector Him Bahadur KC confirmed that the buses resumed their journeys after the snow was cleared.

The local administration has urged transport entrepreneurs not to operate buses at night due to frequent snow disruptions.

Snowfall annually obstructs roadways in the border area between Rukumpurba and Baglung districts.