MUSTANG: Heavy snowfall has been reported in Upper Mustang and Muktinath regions since Saturday night, continuing the winter season’s impact in the area.
The first snowfall of the season occurred on October 27, making this the sixth snowfall of the ongoing season.
Umesh Poudel, head of the Office of the Emergency Response Team in Lomanthang, said that settlements and high-altitude lakes in Upper Mustang have been covered in snow. Areas from Syangbache to Korala in Baragung Muktinath-3 have received up to one foot of snow.
“This is the sixth significant snowfall in locations including Ghiling, Ghami, Charang, Lomanthang, Thingar, Chhoser, Samjung, Namasung, Bharsa, Yara, Ghara, Dhi, and Surkhang,” said Uday Timilsina, an official of Lomanthang Rural Municipality. He added, “The snowfall is continuous, and if it continues until evening, an additional two feet of snow may accumulate.”
Pasture areas around the high lakes have turned completely white, and temperatures in Upper Mustang have dropped, affecting residents and livestock farmers. Locals cultivate only one crop per year, planting Barkhe after returning from winter migrations. The snowfall is expected to benefit farmers during the Barkhe harvest.
In the Muktinath area, heavy snowfall occurred in places including Khinga, Jharkot, Pudak, Chengur, and Muktinath-1. While the snow caused minor inconvenience for pilgrims, it has enhanced the scenic beauty for tourists, according to local resident Kaisang Thokya Thakuri.
The heavy snowfall in Upper Mustang and Muktinath has also triggered heavy rain in lower Mustang areas, including Jomsom. Roshan Thakali, Agriculture Branch Officer of Gharpajhong, noted that the rain during apple blossom season could negatively affect pollination and apple cultivation.
Experts suggest that these irregular snowfall patterns are linked to climate change. Mustang had no snowfall for three consecutive years previously, and the six snowfalls this season are seen as a direct effect of climate variability. Climate change has caused uneven snowfall in the Himalayan region, with some years experiencing heavy snowfall, partial snowfall, or none at all.
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