MUSTANG, April 5: Upper Mustang and the Muktinath area have been experiencing heavy snowfall since Saturday night. This marks the sixth snowfall of the ongoing season in the region. The first snowfall of the season occurred on Kartik 10.
Umesh Paudel, chief of the Office of Chhyaap Lomanthang rural municipality, said that villages and high-altitude pastures in Upper Mustang have been covered with snow since Saturday night. Areas from Syangwache to Korlanaka are completely blanketed in white. In settlements, the snow accumulation has reached up to one foot.
Places affected by the sixth snowfall include Ghilung, Ghami, Charang, Lomanthang, Thingar, Chhoser, Samjung, Namasung, Bharsa, Yara, Ghara, Dhi, and Surkhang. Local residents and farmers have faced difficulties due to the continuous snowfall, according to Uday Timilsina, an official of Lomanthang Rural Municipality. He added that if the snowfall continues until evening, the snow depth could exceed two feet.
Snowfall cheers Mustang farmers
The snowfall has also reduced temperatures in Upper Mustang, affecting both locals and livestock-rearing farmers. Crops are usually planted once a year in this region, and farmers traditionally return from lower-altitude winter pastures to start monsoon crop cultivation. This season's snowfall is expected to benefit farmers by replenishing soil moisture.
In Waragung Muktinath, heavy snowfall was reported in areas including Khinga, Jharakot, Pudak, Chhengtur, and Muktinath. According to local resident Kaising Thokya Thakuri, while the snowfall caused minor inconvenience for pilgrims, it added to the scenic beauty, delighting tourists.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall occurred in lower Mustang areas such as Jomsom, affecting apple orchards as flowers are in the pollination stage. Roshan Thakali, Agriculture Officer of Gharapjhong, noted that this timing of snow and rain could negatively impact the apple crop.
Experts say the unusual snowfall pattern is linked to climate change. For the past three years, Mustang had not received snowfall, but this season has already seen six instances of snow. Climate change is causing irregular snowfall patterns in the Himalayas, with some years experiencing heavy snow, some partial, and others none at all.
