Snowfall strands 41 Nepalis at Hilsa border; Kailash Mansarovar route closes
Summary
Heavy snowfall and rain at Hilsa have stranded 41 Nepalis and halted movement along the Hilsa-Taklakot route, forcing Chinese authorities to suspend Kailash Mansarovar border crossings. The disruption has also affected border trade and travel in the frontier area as the pilgrimage season winds down.
Key Points
- Continuous rain and heavy snowfall at Hilsa have stranded 41 Nepalis from Namkha Rural Municipality who were in Taklakot for business.
- Chinese authorities have suspended border crossings for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, with the route expected to reopen on October 4.
- Snow depths of two to two and a half feet, fuel shortages, and limited equipment are slowing road-clearing efforts on the Nepali side.
- More than 6,000 pilgrims, mostly Indian nationals, have visited Kailash Mansarovar via the Hilsa border this season.
