Taplejung: Around 250 domestic and foreign tourists have been stranded at settlements across the Kanchenjunga region after adverse weather disrupted trekking routes in the district, Red Voice Nepal reported on Friday. The deterioration, linked to Cyclone Arnab over the Bay of Bengal, brought rainfall to lower elevations and snowfall in the higher mountains, making it difficult for trekkers travelling toward or returning from the Kanchenjunga base camps to continue.

Source: Red Voice Nepal

Chief District Officer Umesh Kumar Dahal said no weather-related disaster had been reported in Taplejung so far, and confirmed that around 250 domestic and international tourists were staying in settlements and hotels across the region, particularly in Olangchungola, Ghunsa and Yamphudin. He said authorities were coordinating with security agencies and local governments, had alerted residents, and had urged tourists to put safety first and resume trekking only after assessing weather and trail conditions, ANI reported via GTC Bharat.

Source: ANI via GTC Bharat

Hotels full on both base-camp routes

Tourists are reported in increasing numbers at Italitar, Lamatar, Amjilesa, Thangim, Gyabla, Phale, Ghunsa, Khambachen and Lonak along the northern route, and at Yamphudin, Naya Jhoreni, Torongden, Seram and Ramje on the southern route, with accommodation in several areas at full capacity. Photojournalist Rajiv Limbu, trekking toward Kanchenjunga base camp, said all hotels in Ghunsa were occupied, and his group had been staying there for two days.

The disruption has also reached the route toward Makalu base camp through the Lumbasumba Pass. Tourism activist Hemraj Niraula said around 60 domestic and foreign tourists were staying in hotels in Olangchungola, about half of them travelling toward Makalu base camp, while domestic tourists heading toward Singje via Olangchungola have also had to halt. Armed Police Force personnel deployed for border security and the local ward office have advised tourists and residents to remain in safe locations until conditions improve.

Taplejung remained cloudy on Thursday, with rainfall reported since Wednesday night and snowfall continuing in the higher areas. The stranding follows earlier storm precautions reported this week, including the suspension of trekking permits amid the snowfall warning and a three-day trekking ban linked to the cyclone; what is new on Friday is the confirmed scale of tourists now waiting out the weather on the Kanchenjunga routes themselves.