Severe cold grips Solukhumbu, temperature drops below freezing

Solukhumbu, December 29 — With the temperature dropping drastically, life in the mountainous district of Solukhumbu has become increasingly difficult.

In the district headquarters, Salleri, the temperature has fallen below freezing, significantly impacting daily life. According to the weather station, the temperature in Salleri was recorded at minus one degree Celsius on Saturday morning.

Nabaraj Parajuli, a staff member at the weather station, mentioned that the temperature in Salleri has been below freezing for the past few days. As the cold intensified, locals have been gathering around fires to stay warm. Local resident Nir Kumar Nepali stated, “The cold is so severe that it’s impossible to stay indoors. Therefore, we gather in one place during the morning and evening to sit around the fire.”

For the past three days, there has been no sunshine in the region. The cold has particularly affected children, the elderly, and the physically weak. "Children’s studies are being disrupted, and the elderly are also facing increased difficulties," he said. Due to the extreme cold, the Faplu District Hospital has been experiencing a high influx of patients.

Dr. Prashant Shah, the hospital's chief, stated that the hospital's beds are currently filled with patients suffering from respiratory and other cold-related illnesses. He mentioned, “The number of patients has significantly increased due to the cold. The emergency room is overcrowded, and there are no available beds. Just a few days ago, we had to treat patients on the floor due to a shortage of beds.”

The cold has been even more severe in the high-altitude areas of Khumbu. In recent days, the minimum temperature in Khumbu has dropped to below minus 15 degrees Celsius. Due to the extreme cold, schools in Lukla have been closed.

With the temperature dropping so low, many local businesses and residents of Khumbu have left the region to escape the cold. Hotel and shop owners, who are usually busy during the tourist season, have begun leaving Khumbu to find warmer places. 

Most of the businesses and locals have either gone to Kathmandu or are traveling to religious sites like Bodh Gaya in India. With so many people leaving, the Khumbu region has become deserted, according to Amrit Magar from Lukla. He added that areas like Lukla’s airport, hotels, lodges, camping sites, and sightseeing spots, which are usually packed with tourists during peak season, are now empty.

In addition to the tourism downturn, local communities are facing severe water supply issues as the cold has caused pipes to freeze. The water supply has been disrupted in several parts of the region due to frozen pipes. Local Maya Sherpa explained that even during sunny hours, the frozen water does not thaw, leading to a shortage of drinking water in many places in Khumbu.

The region’s temperature has dropped as low as minus 17 degrees Celsius. The extreme cold has also affected development and daily activities, with fewer people moving around the villages. Locals mentioned that when water pipes are closed, they freeze due to the intense cold, so they leave them open to avoid blockages. Nuru Sherpa of Namche shared that during the night, the water in the pipes freezes and does not thaw until the sun comes up.