The world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest (29,031 ft), lies in Nepal’s northeastern Koshi Province in the Solukhumbu district’s Lukla region. According to government sources, Lukla has been experiencing continuous rainfall and snowfall for three days. Cloudy skies, stormy weather and intermittent snow and rain have sharply reduced visibility. As a result, flight operations at Lukla Airport have remained suspended for the past three days, leading to numerous flight cancellations.
Surendra Thapa, the Assistant Chief District Officer of Solukhumbu, told PTI that flights at Lukla Airport have been grounded since Thursday due to low visibility caused by persistent rain. Consequently, trekkers and tourists who had returned to Lukla after completing their Everest Base Camp trek three days earlier have been unable to fly back to Kathmandu.
Thapa told PTI, “During the tourist season, several dozen flights operate every day. But now all flights have been suspended. Hotels in and around Lukla are overcrowded with tourists. Many are unable to find accommodation.”
Amrit Magar, in-charge of Lukla Airport for Nepal’s Tara Air, said that at least 1,500 tourists who had booked tickets with their airline are now stranded in Lukla. The Meteorological Department’s forecast suggests no immediate sign of the heavy rain and snowfall stopping; instead, more rainfall is likely in Koshi and other mountainous regions in the next two days.
