GORKHA, Sept 30: Larke Pass, a major mountain crossing between northern Gorkha and Manang, has been completely blocked by heavy snowfall.
The pass, located at an altitude of 5,106 metres, has been inaccessible since Thursday after snowfall continued until Saturday, disrupting daily life in the northern areas of Gorkha.
Nima Dorje Lama, a hotel operator from Samdo in Chum Nubri Rural Municipality-1, said thick snow has covered the trail, making travel between Gorkha and Manang impossible.
According to Lama, residents have been relying on Bhimthang in Manang to transport daily essentials after floods and landslides blocked supply routes from markets in the lower areas during the rainy season.
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“Pack animals that went from here to collect supplies are stranded in Manang, while those coming from there are stuck here,” said Lama, a former ward member. “If the route does not reopen for a few more days, Samagaun and Samdo could face food shortages.”
Several sections of the Manaslu trekking route have also been blocked by floods and landslides. Bridges along the trail were swept away, preventing the movement of horses and mules. Temporary wooden bridges have been constructed for local residents and tourists.
Ward Chairperson Karma Chhewang Lama of Chum Nubri-1 said travel to Manang has also come to a complete halt following the snowfall.
With the Manaslu trail blocked, Manang had become the only route for transporting food and other essential supplies to Samagaun and Samdo. “That route has also been blocked by snow, creating further problems,” he said.
Local resident Nima Lama said the closure of Larke Pass has affected the Manaslu-Larke-Chum trekking route. Hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists who came to cross the pass during the peak tourist season are reportedly stranded in Samagaun and Samdo.
“The disruption has affected tourists, tourism businesses, local hotels, guides and porters,” he said.
Locals have written to the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), Chum Nubri Rural Municipality and the Chum Nubri Hotel Entrepreneurs Association, requesting that the pass be cleared and reopened safely.
Larke Pass has also been blocked by heavy snowfall in previous years. Local youths cleared the trail last year, but Nima Dorje Lama said that would not be possible this year because of the unusually heavy snowfall.
“This year, the snow is extremely thick, and it is not possible for locals to clear it on their own,” he said.
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