A 36-year-old woman from Namkha Rural Municipality-5, Humla district, was airlifted by a Nepali Army helicopter to Karnali Provincial Hospital in Surkhet on Thursday, October 8, 2026, after heavy snowfall blocked roads, preventing her from accessing urgent medical care.
Sonam Lyamu Tamang was suffering from uterine problems that required immediate treatment outside her village, where facilities were unavailable. With ground transportation routes rendered impassable due to continuous snowfall, Namkha Rural Municipality, the largest rural municipality in Nepal by area, initiated efforts for an aerial rescue.
Rescue operation and initial treatment
Following the rural municipality’s request and coordination with the District Administration Office, the Nepali Army helicopter transported Tamang to Karnali Provincial Hospital in Surkhet.
Tamang is currently receiving initial treatment at Karnali Provincial Hospital, a key health institution in Karnali Province. The hospital, which currently has a 300-bed capacity, is undergoing an expansion to 500 beds at a cost of Rs 1.02 billion.
After preliminary treatment in Surkhet, Tamang is being prepared for further specialized treatment in Kathmandu, according to the Namkha Rural Municipality. Details regarding her current health status and the specific hospital in Kathmandu she will be transferred to are not yet available.
Impact of snowfall on Humla’s transportation
Increased snowfall in Humla has severely affected transportation services, making it challenging to transfer critically ill patients out of the district for treatment. This incident highlights the ongoing difficulties faced by residents in remote areas during winter.
Earlier, heavy snowfall had also blocked the Hilsa-Simkot road, leaving approximately 300 Nepali citizens stranded in Purang, Tibet. You can read more about that incident here: Hilsa-Simkot road blocked, 300 Nepalis stranded in Purang.
