Mustang. Normal life has been affected due to heavy snowfall in Upper Mustang and incessant rain in the lower areas due to the impact of Cyclone Arnab.

The Korola checkpoint has come to a standstill due to snowfall while the Jomsom-Korala road section has been obstructed due to landslide.

Chief District Officer Parshuram Pokharel said that heavy snowfall has been taking place in Lomanthang and Loghekar Damodar Kunda rural municipalities since Friday night. The lower areas of Waragung Mukti Chhetra Rural Municipality-3, Chusang have also been receiving continuous rainfall since Friday night.

The administration has urged tourists, members of general public visiting Mustang due to heavy snowfall and rain to adopt safety precaution with container operators en route to Korala transit point.

According to the Armed Police Force’s Border Outpost (BOP) at Nhechung of Lomanthang rural municipality-4, the border outpost (BOP) of the Armed Police Force at Korala checkpoint and surrounding areas along the Nepal-China border has received two to three feet snow.

According to APF Inspector Prakash Dhital, chief of the BOP, the movement of vehicles and tourists has been stopped on the road towards Korala due to the increased risk due to snowfall. Containers and electric vehicles that have passed the customs check from Nhechung to Korala border point and from Nhechung to Jomsom have also been asked not to ply.

APF Inspector Dhital said that they have been requested not to resume Nepal-China border trade and export-import until the weather becomes normal.

Tasi Gurung, chairman of Lomanthang Rural Municipality, said that the heavy snowfall that started on Friday night is still continuing. This is the first time in the month of October that such heavy snowfall has occurred. The settlements, kharka, patan and high lake areas of Upper Mustang have been covered with snow. He said that the cold has increased with snowfall affecting the normal life of the locals.

Meanwhile, the Jomsom-Korala road section has also been obstructed due to rainfall. Vehicular movement has been disrupted after landslides occurred at Gharpajhong Rural Municipality-4, Jomsom and Chusang of Waragung Mukti Chhetra Rural Municipality-3, said Information Officer at the District Police Office, Ishwor Mahat.