Snowfall accompanied by rain in the high hills and mountain regions of Jumla, Jajarkot, Gorkha and Lamjung has disrupted daily life, with temperatures dropping across the affected areas.

Heavy snow has fallen around Gididaha in the Pansaya Patan area of Tatopani Rural Municipality-4 in Jumla. Locals said the areas of Dhangre, Airijhal, Gairigum, Dudhwadi and Dandamakandh in Pansaya Patan have been receiving heavy snowfall along with rain.

Pansaya Patan is about 24 kilometres from the ward office of Tatopani Rural Municipality-4.

Higher parts of Jajarkot have also seen continued rain and snowfall, bringing colder conditions. As snow began falling in the high-altitude pastures of Barekot’s Chakhure Patan and Kushe Patan, herders have started bringing down horses, mules, sheep and goats that had been taken there for grazing.

The animals are being moved to lower elevations to protect them from the worsening cold.

Persistent rain and falling temperatures have also affected daily life. Families living in temporary shelters since their homes were damaged in earthquakes are facing additional hardship as rain and cold set in.

Water has seeped into some shelters, leaving them damp and making it harder for families to keep warm. Children, older people and those who are ill are particularly vulnerable to the cold.

In Gorkha, snowfall was reported for a short period on Friday morning in Samdo in Samagaun of Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1. Police Inspector Dinesh Khadka of the Samdo border outpost said temperatures dropped after the brief snowfall.

Above the Manaslu base camp in Chumanubri-1, however, snowfall has continued for the past two weeks. The snowfall has affected attempts to climb Manaslu, while trekking along the Manaslu trail has also been halted.

Snow began falling in the northern parts of the district after heavy rain started on Thursday.

Upper parts of Manang also received rain and snow from early Friday morning, prompting the district administration to ask people to avoid trekking in high-altitude areas for three days.

Pyara Lal Khadkathoki of Mungje in Manang Dingsyang Rural Municipality-5 in Manang district said snow had been falling intermittently since Friday morning.

“Sometimes it snows, and sometimes it rains. It gets colder when the snow starts falling,” he said.

Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, chief of the Area Conservation Office of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project in Manang, said rain and snow had been falling in the upper areas since around 7am.

Snow has settled on the hills, but there has not been significant accumulation in settlements or along trails, he said.

According to Krishna Prasad Paudel, assistant chief district officer of Manang, snowfall has been reported from Humde, at an elevation of about 3,300 metres, and higher areas. Lower elevations have received rain, he said.

Snow has also fallen in settlements of Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality, while snow was visible on the upper ridges above the district headquarters of Chame and towards the Lamjung Himal range, Paudel said.

With the risk from snowfall increasing, the Manang District Administration Office has barred trekking in high-altitude areas from Friday through Sunday. The restriction covers areas including Tilicho Lake, Thorong La Pass, Ice Lake, Kang La Pass and Bhimthang.

Tourists already on trekking routes have also been asked to remain in safe locations and avoid travelling to higher elevations.

“We have asked people not to go trekking for now. Tourists have not gone into the high-altitude areas,” Paudel said.