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Snowfall hinders poll campaigns in high altitude regions
Snowfall at high altitude areas in Manang, Mustang and Gorkha has hit the election campaigns as people have started descending to lower regions to escape freezing weather.Snowfall at high altitude areas in Manang, Mustang and Gorkha has hit the election campaigns as people have started descending to lower regions to escape freezing weather.
Leaders of various political parties in Mustang on Tuesday said that they were forced to suspend their campaigns due to snowfall and cold weather.
Upper Mustang and other high altitude areas have witnessed snowfall since Sunday, and many of their residents have migrated or in the process of migrating to warmer areas.
“The weather is freezing for the last two days. People have started move towards lower areas to escape cold” said Karma Santuk Gurung of Chhondup Village.
All flights to and from Jomsom were also cancelled on Monday due to inclement weather conditions.
“The flights resumed on Tuesday but not without difficulties,” said Bishnu Prasad Adhikari, chief at Jomsom Airport.
The minimum temperature of Jomsom plunged to one degree Celsius on Tuesday.
Snowfall has also been reported in many parts of Manang.
CPN-UML candidate Dandulal Gurung, who was campaigning in Nasong Rural Municipality, said their campaign was hindered because of cold weather. “We could not visit many villages because it was too cold outside,” he said.
In Gorkha, snowfall has occurred in the areas located above 3,000 metres altitude, including Samagaun, Samdo, Lho, Prok and Chhekampar.
“There is a high chance of election campaigns being affected due to cold,” said Bed Prakash Dahal, ward secretary of Chumnubri Rural Municipality.