Heavy snowfall and continuous rain in Hilsa, Humla, have stranded 41 Nepali citizens at the Nepal-China border, severely disrupting the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. The Hilsa-Taklakot road section is completely blocked, with approximately 2 to 2.5 feet of snow accumulated in the Hilsa area.
The stranded individuals are mostly residents of Namkha Rural Municipality–1, 2, and 3 in Humla, who typically engage in trade in Taklakot, China. They arrived in Hilsa last Friday but were unable to cross the border due to the adverse weather conditions, according to Immigration Officer Bimal Poudel.
Following the snowfall, Chinese authorities have halted border movement for those wishing to visit Kailash Mansarovar. The Hilsa Immigration Office anticipates the border might reopen around October 4 (Ashoj 18 BS), as stated by immigration staff Pema Lama.
Road Clearing Efforts Face Challenges
The main route to Hilsa, Nara Lek, is also covered in thick snow, posing significant challenges for road clearing. Deputy Superintendent of Police Nanda Bahadur Saud of Armed Police Force Nepal No. 44 Company stated that while road clearing is ongoing on the Chinese side, opening the route on the Nepali side will take more time.
Efforts to clear the snow are further hampered by the availability of only one excavator in the Hilsa area and a shortage of fuel. Local residents and security personnel are working together to clear the snow and restore access.
Security personnel were deployed on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, to clear the Simkot–Hilsa road, which had been obstructed by snowfall from September 25 to 27, 2026 (Ashoj 9 to 11 BS), according to the District Police Office Humla.
Impact on Pilgrims and Local Economy
The unexpected snowfall, occurring as the main Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage season draws to a close, has significantly affected both pilgrims and local traders, disrupting daily life in the border region. This year, 6,010 tourists have visited Kailash Mansarovar via the Hilsa border point. The majority of these pilgrims were Indian citizens, followed by tourists from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nepal, according to the Immigration Office.
Hilsa, located in the north-western corner of Nepal, is a vital border crossing connecting to China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. The Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage season typically runs from mid-April to mid-October. The Simkot–Hilsa road, part of the Karnali Corridor, is crucial for linking northern Humla to the district headquarters of Simkot and has historically faced disruptions due to natural calamities and, previously, the COVID-19 pandemic. The heavy snowfall in Hilsa is part of a broader weather pattern affecting Nepal, with temperatures dropping and further rain and snowfall expected in various regions, as reported by NM Khabar English earlier.
While the Hilsa Immigration Office has indicated a potential reopening of the border on October 4, the timeline for fully clearing the Nepali side of the road remains uncertain. The exact number of local residents and security personnel involved in the ongoing road clearing efforts is not yet known.
