Over 1,000 tourists have been stranded in Manthali, Ramechhap, after adverse weather conditions halted flights to Lukla, a gateway to the Sagarmatha (Everest) region. Both domestic and foreign tourists, en route to Lukla for trekking and exploring the Everest area, have been unable to proceed due to the inclement weather.
The stranded tourists had arrived in Manthali from various locations, including Kathmandu, but flight disruptions to Lukla, caused by the unfavorable weather in the Khumbu region, have left them in limbo. According to local tourism entrepreneurs, while some tourists have opted to travel to other destinations or take alternative land routes to Solukhumbu, many remain stuck in Manthali awaiting an improvement in conditions.
Prajjwal Guragain, Information Officer at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in Ramechhap, confirmed that no regular flights have been operated between Manthali and Lukla since Monday. “Though a few flights were managed on Wednesday, operations were disrupted again due to persistent adverse weather,” Guragain said.
In an effort to ease the situation, helicopters from various companies airlifted 135 tourists to Phaplu and Surke in the Solu region on Thursday. However, the number of tourists stranded in Manthali continues to rise, leading to difficulties in finding accommodation.
“Hotels and homestays in Manthali are fully occupied,” shared a representative of the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, Ramechhap. With autumn being the peak season for trekking in the Everest region, the number of visitors attempting to reach Sagarmatha Base Camp via Lukla has surged.
Hiron Shah, the Chief of CAAN, Ramechhap, stated that the airport typically operates up to 55 flights per day during favorable weather conditions. However, with ongoing weather issues, flight disruptions are expected to continue, leaving tourists in uncertainty.
Source: RSS
