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Roundup: Extreme weather in Nepal posing threats to quake-hit tourism

Xinhua, March 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

Extreme weather in different parts of Nepal has started posing threats to the quake-shattered tourism industry in the Himalayan country.

Erratic weather in the capital city and many tourism destinations has forced tourism entrepreneurs to get concerned over the possible hazards in the sector that is gearing up for revival from the April massive earthquake last year and a month-long blockade.

Nepal's tourism hub Pokhara Monday witnessed sudden extreme changes in weather with occurrence of hail storm.

"Pokhara has been witnessing unusual weather since last few days. The day has turned dark as evening compelling tourists to stay inside rooms," an official at Fishtail Lodge in the touristic city Pokhara said.

The city of lakes and mountains has witnessed extreme weather conditions that are regarded as atypical in spring season.

A tourist, who reached Pokhara on Sunday, said over phone, "Instead of going for sight-seeing and adventures, we are watching the green meadow of hotel turning white with hail. The weather is so scary here."

Many experts believe that climate change has a role in making weather erratic and extreme. According to a report by Inter-Governmental Panel of climate change in 2013, magnitude and frequency of extreme rainfalls are likely to increase in South Asia.

However, recent change in weather has posed a threat to the adventure tourism of the Himalayan country, where hundreds of climbers are all set to attempt summits including the world's highest peak Mount Qomolangma this spring season.

Though ice-fall doctors are already in Mount Qomolangma area to fix ropes and ladders for spring expedition, it has been reported that Mount Qomolangma comprises several cracks and holes following the destructive earthquake that triggered avalanches last year killing 19 people.

"I have never seen so many pits and fissures on the path to the summit. It is dangerous this year," the national news agency quoted icefall doctors commander Ang Kagi Sherpa as saying.

April-May is the major climbing season to the world's highest peak and other nearby peaks.

Nepal government has already extended the climbing permits of 103 different expeditions issued in 2015 by two more years following the disruption in expeditions. Endit