Around 800 tourists return from Tilicho Base Camp due to heavy snowfall
Bad weather forces trekkers to cut short their journeys as authorities work to clear roads and ensure safety in Manang. Security personnel clearing the snow from the road. Aash Gurung/TKP
Hundreds of tourists trekking towards Tilicho Lake (4,919 metres) have turned back from the base camp after heavy snowfall blocked trails and made conditions unsafe.
Many have shortened their trips and descended to lower regions as bad weather continues to affect the Manang area.
According to local officials, approximately 800 to 900 tourists have returned from Tilicho Base Camp in the past two days.
“Business operators estimate around a thousand have come down, but it’s likely between 800 and 900,” said Krishna Lamichhane, a visitor from Besisahar who was on his way to Tilicho.
Chyolpa Gurung, ward chair of Ngisyang Rural Municipality-9, Khangsar—the last settlement before Tilicho—confirmed that nearly 800 trekkers had descended. “It started snowing last evening, and no one could go up today. We advised everyone to stay back. Over 800 tourists have already come down from the base camp, and many have reached Khangsar or moved further downhill,” he said. “Some trekkers who stayed here last night have started descending this morning.”
Naba Raj Poudyal, chief district officer (CDO) of Manang, said efforts are underway to clear the snow-covered road up to Khangsar. “We have mobilised two bulldozers—one in upper Manang and another between Humde and the district headquarters in Chame—to remove the snow,” he said.
A district-level security task force has been deployed for road clearance and rescue operations.
The team includes Deputy Superintendent of Police Hari Paudel of the District Police Office, Deputy Superintendent of Police Dhruva Regmi of the Armed Police Force, and Major Anil Thapa of the Nepal Army’s Naya Bhairavi Battalion.
Security personnel equipped with shovels and excavators are working to open the blocked sections of the road, and motorcycles have begun to move in some areas.
“We are clearing the road while ensuring the safety of tourists. They have been advised to descend to safer zones,” CDO Poudyal said. One sick tourist has already been rescued and is receiving treatment at the Humde health post.
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