GORKHA: Larke Pass, located on the border of northern Gorkha and Manang, has been completely blocked due to heavy snowfall. The pass has remained closed since the snowfall that occurred between last Thursday and Saturday.
Nima Dorje Lama, a hotel entrepreneur from Samdo in Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1, stated that the closure of the pass, situated at an altitude of 5,106 meters, has severely affected local life. Due to floods and landslides damaging the Manaslu trekking route and bridges, locals had been relying on the Bhimthang market in Manang for daily supplies. The accumulation of thick snow on the pass has now cut off this vital supply route.
Nima Dorje, a former ward member, warned of a potential food shortage in Samagaun and Samdo. “Mules that went to fetch supplies are stuck in Manang, and those who came from there are stranded here,” he said. Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1 Ward Chairman Karma Chhewang Lama confirmed that the blockage has disrupted food transportation, which was already strained by the damage to the Manaslu trekking trail.
The closure has also left hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists stranded in Samagaun and Samdo during the peak trekking season, impacting tourism entrepreneurs, hoteliers, guides, and porters. Locals have written to the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), the rural municipality, and the Chumanubri Hotel Entrepreneurs Association requesting assistance to clear the pass.
While local youths managed to clear the path after heavy snowfall last year, Nima Dorje noted that it is not possible this year. “The snow is too thick this time; it is not possible for locals alone to clear it,” he added.
