Lukla: Tourists remain stranded in hotels across Lukla and Namche Bazaar as flights to and from Tenzing-Hillary Airport, the gateway to Mount Everest, have been suspended for the past three days due to persistent adverse weather conditions.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Nawaraj Katuwal, an Air Traffic Controller at Lukla, reported that flights have been grounded since Thursday because of continuous rain resulting in poor visibility. Typically, around 60 flights operate daily during this peak season, but all operations have come to a halt. The low visibility has not only affected airplane flights but also helicopter operations.
The suspension of flights has led to hotels from Lukla to Namche Bazaar being fully occupied by tourists. Those who were planning to return home after exploring the Khumbu region are now stuck. In Lukla, hotels and guesthouses are at full capacity. Amrit Magar, in-charge of Tara Airlines Lukla, noted that approximately 1,500 tourists with tickets from the airline are currently stranded.
Local resident Toyakumar Shrestha mentioned that hotels are even accommodating tourists in their lobbies due to the high demand. Julie Marie, a tourist from France, expressed her frustration as she and others await flights after returning from the Everest base camp three days ago.
The situation is similar in Namche Bazaar, where hotels are fully booked. Lama Kaji Sherpa, chairman of the Everest Pollution Control Committee, stated that around 1,200 tourists are stuck in Namche alone, with hotels operating at full capacity. Tek Rai, who is currently in Namche, reported that the area has not seen sunshine for four days.
With flights suspended, some tourists are attempting to return to Kathmandu by road via Salleri. However, this route is challenging. Tourism entrepreneur Bal Darnal highlighted that landslides, triggered by the rain, have disrupted traffic on the Solukhumbu-Kathmandu road section.
Meteorologist Saroj Pudasaini from the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in Kathmandu warned of continued heavy rain and potential snowfall. He indicated that the weather in the mountainous and hilly areas, including Koshi Province, could remain rainy for another two to three days before gradually clearing.