Kathmandu, Nepal: Continuous monsoon rainfall, dense cloud cover, and poor visibility have severely disrupted air services across Nepal's Himalayan districts of Mugu, Jumla, Humla, and Dolpa, leaving hundreds of passengers and tourists stranded while exposing the region's vulnerability to weather-related transport disruptions.
According to airport authorities, adverse weather conditions have forced repeated flight cancellations from key mountain airports, including Rara Airport (Talcha) in Mugu, significantly affecting residents, visitors, and public servants travelling during the monsoon season.
Under normal conditions, Nepal Airlines, Summit Air, and Sita Air operate regular flights to Rara Airport six days a week, except Tuesdays. However, persistent rainfall and low visibility over recent days have resulted in the cancellation of most scheduled flights. Airport officials stated that only occasional flights have been able to operate during brief periods of improved weather.
The prolonged suspension of flights has left hundreds of passengers waiting at airports for several days. Those requiring travel for medical treatment, education, government services, employment, and other essential purposes have been particularly affected. As delays continue, many have been compelled to undertake long and hazardous journeys via the Karnali Highway and other difficult mountain roads.
The disruption has also impacted tourism in the region. Visitors travelling to the renowned Rara Lake, Nepal's largest freshwater lake and one of the country's premier nature-based tourism destinations, have faced cancelled travel plans, extended hotel stays, and unexpected road travel after air services became unreliable.
Authorities noted that Talcha Airport (Mugu), Juphal Airport (Dolpa), and Simikot Airport (Humla) are situated in high-altitude terrain where weather conditions can change rapidly during the monsoon, making safe and regular flight operations particularly challenging.
Officials said that once weather conditions improve, stranded passengers and tourists will be transported on a priority basis. The recurring disruption of mountain air services during the rainy season has once again highlighted the need for strengthened aviation management, improved weather forecasting, timely passenger information, and enhanced coordination among airlines and aviation authorities to ensure safer and more reliable connectivity in Nepal's remote Himalayan regions.
#EcosphereNews #Nepal #Karnali #Mugu #RaraLake #Monsoon #FlightDisruption #Climate #MountainAviation #Tourism #Weather #AirTransport #Humla #Dolpa #Jumla #TravelSafety
