[December 24, 2005] Heavy snowfall affects normal life in far-western Nepal Tweet (Comtex Environment)KATHMANDU, Dec 24, 2005 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The normal life in the far- western region of Nepal has been affected by a heavy snowfall in the last two days, local government offices said Saturday. "The snowfall has affected the normal life of the people in Doti, Dadeldhura, Baitadi and Darchula districts, some 800 km west of Kathmandu," the Far-Western Regional Administration Office said in a press statement. "This is the biggest snowfall in the last 40 years," the statement quoted local people as saying. Dozens of vehicles and hundreds of passengers have been stranded following the heavy rain and snowfall at Hagulte Lek area of local Bhimdatta Highway of Dadeldhura district, the statement noted. Temperature has drastically dropped due to the snowfall and it has been hard for the stranded passengers to find shelter and food, the statement noted, adding, "A snowfall of more than half meter in thickness was measured at the Doti district headquarters and heavy snowfall continued there and nearby areas." The snow along the 17-km section of the local Highway from Syaule to Gahira was almost two meters thick, the statement quoted Tek Bahadur Bohra, a driver who returned from Hagulte of Dadeldhura district, as saying. The hills around the region have been totally covered with the snow. "Electricity supply in Dadeldhura, Baitadi and Doti districts has been disrupted following the heavy snowfall," the statement said. Meanwhile, dozers have been sent to clear the snow off the road and resume the traffic as soon as possible, noted Bharat Kaji Dewal, chief of the Road Division Office at Kulpate area of Dipayal district. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]