Solukhumbu: Flights at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, the primary gateway to Mount Everest, have been suspended for four consecutive days due to adverse weather conditions, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded in the Everest region of Nepal. Continuous drizzle and thick fog have blanketed the area, severely limiting visibility and halting all air operations.
With skies shrouded in clouds and persistent rain, hotels and guesthouses from Lukla to Namche Bazaar are overflowing with visitors unable to depart after completing their treks in the Khumbu region. Normally, the airport handles over 60 flights daily during this peak season, but operations have ground to a complete stop, affecting both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Nawaraj Katuwal, Air Traffic Controller (ATC) at the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority in Lukla, explained that relentless rainfall since Thursday has made flying impossible. “Visibility is extremely low due to the rain—not only planes but even helicopters can’t operate. A few helicopters flew last Thursday, but none since,” he said. This disruption comes at a critical time, with many trekkers wrapping up high-altitude expeditions to Everest Base Camp.
The flight cancellations have trapped tourists who were set to return to Kathmandu after exploring the Khumbu area. Accommodations in Lukla are at full capacity, with some visitors forced to wait in hotel lobbies. Amrit Magar, in-charge at Tara Airlines in Lukla, reported that approximately 1,500 ticketed passengers from his airline alone are stuck. “All hotels in Lukla are packed; it’s becoming difficult to find rooms for new arrivals,” he added.
Local hotelier Toya Kumar Shrestha confirmed the strain, noting that some establishments are seating guests in common areas just to accommodate everyone. French tourist Julie Marie, who recently returned from Everest Base Camp, shared her frustration: “We reached the base camp and came back to Lukla three days ago. With no flights, we’re just stuck here waiting.”
The overcrowding extends beyond Lukla to Namche Bazaar, the bustling hub at the heart of the Everest trekking route.
Lama Kaji Sherpa, chairman of the Everest Pollution Control Committee, estimated that around 1,200 tourists are marooned there. “Continuous rain and snowfall in the upper regions have brought down trekkers from higher altitudes to Namche, while those heading up from Lukla are also halted here. Hotel occupancy is at 100 percent,” he said.
Namche resident Tek Rai described the gloomy scene: “We haven’t seen sunlight here for four days. Guests are passing the time reading books and listening to music.” The influx has turned the vibrant Sherpa village into a temporary refuge, underscoring the vulnerabilities of high-altitude tourism in Nepal’s unpredictable weather.
For those seeking alternatives, the overland route from Lukla via Salleri to Kathmandu is proving equally challenging. Tourism operator Bal Darnal highlighted that monsoon-induced landslides and mudslides have blocked sections of the Solukhumbu-Kathmandu highway, particularly along the BP Highway near Kavrepalanchok and Sindhuli. “Heavy rain and slush have caused hours-long traffic jams; vehicles are stuck for extended periods,” he noted. This leaves many with few viable options beyond waiting out the storm.
Meteorologists warn that relief may not come soon. Saroj Pudasaini from the Weather Forecasting Division in Kathmandu’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology indicated that the monsoon system remains active, with heavy rain and snowfall likely to persist. “In Koshi Province and other hilly and mountainous areas, rain could continue for another two to three days before the weather gradually clears,” he forecasted. This extended wet spell, unusual for early November, highlights growing climate variability in the Himalayas, where post-monsoon rains are becoming more frequent and intense.
The stranding of over 2,700 tourists in total across Lukla and Namche not only disrupts personal itineraries but also strains local resources and economies dependent on seamless tourism flows. As Nepal’s adventure sector booms—drawing record numbers to Everest’s trails—this incident serves as a stark reminder of the perils posed by erratic weather patterns amid climate change. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, urging patience while exploring contingency measures like limited helicopter evacuations once conditions improve.
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