120 Yaks go missing in Mustang avalanche
MYAGDI: NOV. 15 – 150 yaks grazing in the forest of Thasang Rural Municipality-2 of Mustang have gone missing into an avalanche. Yak of two herds have gone missing after an avalanche fell from Manapathi Himal at the head of Kowang, Larjung, Boksikhola and Naurikot.
Ward President Nar Prasad Hirachan informed that the avalanche blew off the roof of Ratna Kumari Sherchan’s house in Naurikot. Jana Adarsha Amar Singh Secondary School, a student of Kobang, who was slightly injured in the stampede, has returned home after treatment at Jomsom, he said.
Shepherds in the avalanche area have come in contact safely. Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma said that only 10/12 of the 130 yak swarms were seen by binoculars and the missing swarms may have been buried by the avalanche.
The avalanche has knocked down trees in the forest. Wildlife habitat has been damaged. The water level in Boskikhola had risen after the avalanche. The Beni-Jomsom road was closed for some time.
The snow inside the house in Naurikot village has melted. The avalanche has also damaged the crops grown on the roof and yard of the house. Cows, buffaloes and sheep grazing in the forest may have also been injured, said Ward Chairman Hirachan. Wheat and buckwheat have been damaged.
A team of security officials including MP Prem Prasad Tulachan, state assembly members Chandra Mohan Gauchan, Mahendra Thakali and Sharma inspected the site. Details of the damage are being collected, said Netra GT, chief of Kowang Police Post.
According to Prof. Khem Gurung of Jana Adarsha Amar Singh Secondary School, they fled in panic when they came to Beni-Jomsom road near Boksikhola in Naurikot village.
Member of the House of Representatives Tulachan said that the avalanche occurred during the off-season due to the freezing of snow in winter. He says avalanches have occurred in the off-season due to rising temperatures and the effects of climate change.
