By Lokendra Joshi, Darchula, Nov. 18: A heavy snowfall in Byas Rural Municiplaity-1, Chhangru and Tinkar village, has led Sauka Community to move down to the district headquarters, Khalanga.

The whole village has been covered in layers of snow due to snowfall since Sunday evening, informed Yogesh Bohara, a local.

Bohara said, “Following the snowfall, cold has increased due to which locals of Tinkar village has started moving down to Khalanga from today.”

However, people are compelled to take the route of India as there is no avenue to Khalanga from the village, while descending to the district headquarters of Darchula.

As there is no way to Khalanga from village, the border and passage has been opened to Sauka Community for mobility.

Even though there was lockdown owing to COVID-19 infection since March, Byasi people moved upward to Chhangru and Tinkar from district headquarters, Kalanga in May as well using the Indian route.

Even though a 550-meter horse-trail from Ghantibagar to Chhangru has been opened recently by the Nepali Army, the people of Byas are forced to use the Indian road to reach the district headquarters because the trail at Tambaku steep slope still lacks walkable track, said Binod Tikanri, another local.

As many as 60 families are migrating to Khalanga this winter travelling some six days on foot.

People of Byas descend to Khalanga after cultivating crops in their villages, which is their main occupation.  .

People start moving down along with their belonging including cattle and reach Gavrang on the first day, Lamari on the second day, Nijang on the third day, Garvadhar on the fourth day, Elagad on the fifth day and Khalanga on the sixth day.

Human families along with their animals migrate to lower regions for warmth and sunlight as Byas, which lies at 12,000 feet from sea level gets extreme cold during winter.