RUKUM EAST: Passengers who were stranded on the Mid Hill Highway due to heavy snowfall have been rescued after transportation was disrupted.

The passengers, traveling in three buses from Rukumpaschim to Kathmandu, along with other light vehicles, became trapped in the Lukum-Patihalna section of the highway following a blizzard that began on Friday night.

The vehicles were unable to cross the border between Rukumpurba and Baglung districts, leaving passengers confined to their vehicles for over 24 hours.

Premika Malla, a passenger from Rukumpaschim, said they couldn’t leave the bus as there were no nearby hotels, and they went nearly 48 hours without food.

Rudra Prasad Neupane, the Chief District Officer of Rukumpaschim, stated that the passengers were rescued once the snow had been cleared.

The snow, which had built up over a 5-kilometer stretch of the Lukum-Patihalna section and 2 kilometers of the Baglung section, was removed by the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force.

Police Inspector Him Bahadur KC confirmed that the buses resumed their journeys once the roads were cleared.

The local administration has advised transport operators to avoid running buses at night due to the frequent snow-related disruptions.

Snowfall regularly causes road blockages in the border area between Rukumpurba and Baglung districts.