MUSTANG: Daily life in upper Mustang has been severely affected as temperatures continue to fall, reaching as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius in the mornings and evenings.
According to Karma Namgel Gurung, Chair of Ward No. 2 in Lomanthang, the extreme cold has caused irrigation canals, taps, and other water sources to freeze. Locals are melting snow using fuel to meet their daily water needs.
Most residents have already migrated to lower regions to escape the harsh winter. While the entire population used to leave before winter in previous years, more than 300 people have stayed back this season.
Local tourism entrepreneur Ram Gurung said many residents of Lomanthang have also moved to warmer areas. Lomanthang, which has around two dozen hotels serving tourists, now has most of them closed due to the cold.
Local representative Dhukke Bista said development works in the region have come to a halt as temperatures continue to drop.
Despite the harsh weather, police units in upper Mustang will not be relocated to lower areas, as the Korola check point and the customs office along the Nepal–China border remain in operation, said Police Inspector Santosh Basyal.
According to him, police posts in Lomanthang, Chosar, and Chonup under Lomanthang Rural Municipality, and Charang, Ghami, and Surkhang under Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality, will continue functioning throughout the winter. “Only in cases of heavy snowfall or extreme conditions do we bring the units down. At the moment, we have no plan to relocate them,” he added.
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