The Nepali border villages that empty for six months every year
Summary
Families in Chhangru and Tinkar leave their Himalayan villages every winter for lower-lying areas, locking their homes and moving livestock with them to escape heavy snow and extreme cold. Poor mule tracks and landslide-damaged trails are making the centuries-old seasonal migration increasingly difficult.
Key Points
- Residents of Chhangru and Tinkar in Darchula leave for six months each winter because heavy snowfall and extreme cold make life in the villages impossible.
- The seasonal migration, known as kuncha sarne, requires families to store food, prepare fields, and arrange livestock care before departing.
- Damaged trails and mule tracks have made travel difficult, forcing residents to keep using routes through India despite repeated repair spending.
- Local officials say the municipality lacks enough resources to build an all-season road and is seeking support from provincial and federal governments.
