Regular air flights from Simkot Airport in Humla district have been disrupted for almost a week now. nearly four feet of snow has accumulated on the runaway, practically putting it out of action for now.
“Despite this, the local authorities appear to be doing little to alleviate the situation. Days have gone by since the start of the snowfall but government officials, the Nepal Army and the police have not been seen doing anything to clear the runaway,” said a Humla local, Min Singh Nepali, who was in Nepalgunj for his wife’s medical treatment.
Locals in Gamgadhi, headquarters of Mugu district, and nearby areas have been spending their nights in darkness for almost two weeks after Gamgadhi Micro Hydropower Project, the major source of electricity for hundreds of households, developed a malfunction.
“Ours is the remotest region in the country. No matter how miserably we are living here, the government does not care. We have no good roads, nor any other good facilities,” noted Nepali.
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Construction of roads, extension of power lines and many other development works have halted in Humla, Mugu and Kalikot districts for months and the bad weather is making matters worse, he claimed.
“It’s not that we don’t have heavy machinery like dozers to clear the snow, but there is no fuel. Moreover, it’s not possible to deploy all the locals to clear the snow while there is no end to the snowfall,” said Humla Chief District Officer, Bam Bahadur KC.
Aircraft are the major means of transport for Humla locals. On a normal day, at least 10 fights are operated from Surkhet and Nepalgunj to Humla.
Nepali said that he has been stuck in Nepalgunj for eight days now. “Due to heavy snowfall in the mountains, flights to Humla have been cancelled. I have no idea how long I will have to stay here,” said Nepali, the Humla local.
The plight of the locals in Mugu district is no different. With the hydropower project damaged, district headquarters Gamgadhi and some VDCs like Shreenagar, Kakarbadi, Pina and Runga have remained in darkness for days now.
“Immediately after the problem occured, the Nepalgunj branch of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) was informed. But no help has been forthcoming,” said Mugu Chief District Officer, Shambhu Prasad Regmi.
Meanwhile, District Administration Office Humla has directed local officials to participate in clearing the snow from the airport site. The work has been distributed among the Nepal Army, Police and government officials.
“Both Nepal Army and the police will have to clear the snow for up to 200 meters of the runaway and government officials are responsible for 20 meters,” said KC. Simkot Airport stretches up to 750 meters.
