Dilip Poudel

Pasang Gurung of Chhoser-7 of Upper Mustang came down to Pokhara along with his family to sell dried allium leaves (Jimbu´). Dikten Bista of Lomanthang went to Baglung and some of his neighbors have gone to India. All of them left their homes in search of warmer climes as temperatures in their villages have dropped below freezing. 

According to Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) people are increasingly leaving their homes in Upper Mustang and are coming down to the lower elevation to evade the harsh winter. Santosh Sherchan, Chief of ACAP, said temperatures in Upper Mustang had dropped as low as minus 6 degree Celsius. 

“As in the previous years, people of Upper Mustang have left their homes for lower land for warmer climate as temperatures have started falling below freezing. Well-off families go to cities in Tarai while other reach various other places in the Tarai to spent their time doing business,” said Sherchan. 

Former VDC chairman of Chhoser VDC, Shankhalal Gurung informed that the VDC with the population of 1,185 is almost empty, barring some people left behind to look after the houses. “Around 200 households are empty here. Only some old people are left behind to take care of the houses.” said Shankhalal over the telephone. “The cold here is really hard to endure,” he added. 

Chhoser along with Chhonhum, Lomanthang, Surkhang, Charang, Chusang, and Ghami VDC wear a deserted look. Four to Five households jointly hire one person to look after their houses. 

After storing the harvest, the people of the region leave their villages in search of warmer places to escape the biting cold. Among their favored destinations are Pokhara, Chitwan and Katmandu while some even go to Indian cities.

Dikten Bista, who arrived in Baglung recently to escape the harsh cold back home, said he would return only in spring. “During the winter we work as vendors selling herbal products and will return home only toward the end of the cold season,” said Bista. Of 30 schools in the region eight have already moved to Pokhara to continue study while others closed down for winter vacation.

Published on: 5 December 2012 | Republica