Severe Cyclone Montha: Everest tourism hit, trekking halted in Nepal
The Visakhapatnam International Airport, which had all its flights cancelled on Tuesday due to Cyclone Montha, has now resumed operations.
The Visakhapatnam International Airport, which had all its flights cancelled on Tuesday due to Cyclone Montha, has now resumed operations.
The Visakhapatnam International Airport, which had all its flights cancelled on Tuesday due to Cyclone Montha, has now resumed operations.
Cyclone Montha made landfall on Tuesday night and has weakened since, though the IMD has warned of heavy rainfall across various parts of India. It has also impacted Everest tourism on both the Nepali and Chinese sides of the peak, as this season is experiencing a second heavy snowfall this month due to the cyclone. A private helicopter, deployed to rescue stranded trekkers in Lobuche near the Everest Base Camp, also crashed in snowdrifts while attempting to land in severe conditions, according to Reuters. While the pilot is safe, it's not yet certain whether the trekkers could be rescued.
Trekking halted in many regions
Nepal authorities have instructed trekkers to cancel their plans due to heavy snowfall. It has also asked hikers en route to Annapurna, Manaslu, and Dhaulagiri not to proceed. Severe rain and storms are also predicted for Thursday and Friday in this regions, due to the cyclone.
Visakhapatnam airport opens
The Visakhapatnam International Airport, which had all its flights cancelled on Tuesday due to Cyclone Montha, has now resumed operations. However, flights on the Vijayawada-Vizag route are still suspended. Certain services from Rajahmundry are also cancelled due to inclement weather. Earlier, the Southern Railways and the East Coast Railways had combined to suspend about 100 trains due to the cyclone.
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