It has snowed for the third time in Taplejung. Snow has fallen in the Pathibhara temple area, a famous religious site located at an altitude of 3,794 meters above sea level. Rajendra Mahat, an employee of the Pathibhara Area Development Committee, said that the pilgrims had difficulty in reaching the temple after the snow covered the road.
He said, “I am taking four pilgrims with me. Snowfall has not stopped. The road is completely covered with snow. You have to guess the way.” He said that it is more difficult to return than to go to Pathibhara. He said that there is a problem of slipping in the snow on the way down the road. It has been snowing in Pathibhara area since Thursday night. According to the Area Development Committee, 60 pilgrims reached the Pathibhara temple on the same day.
Snow has started falling at an altitude of 3,400 meters in Faktanglung Gaonpalika-7 Yang,
located at an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level, since Thursday. Kelsang Sherpa, a local from Ghunsa, said that more children and senior citizens were affected by the snowfall. The snowfall will affect people’s lives as well as livestock, said Tashi Tenji, a local from Ghunsa.
Animal husbandry has been the main occupation of the Himalayan region. However, Sherpa
said that it would be difficult to save the animals during the snowfall. He said that it would be a problem to save the calves of most of the yaks during the snowfall. Similarly, Olangchugola, Bhale and Gapla settlements located at 3,200 meters above sea level have also received heavy snowfall.
Dandu Sherpa, ward chairman of Mikwakhola Gaonpalika-6, said that there was snowfall in
Tokpegola and Papung Basti of Mikwakhola Gaonpalika-6. With the snowfall, the temperature has risen in Phungling Bazaar, the district headquarters. Extreme cold has affected people’s lives. The district had received snowfall for the first time on Poush 13 and 14. The second snowfall was on Poush 29.
By Muna Chand
