Kathmandu: Hundreds of tourists have been stranded at Lukla airport in Nepal’s Everest region as adverse weather has forced the suspension of flights for the third consecutive day. Continuous rainfall, cloudy skies, and dense fog have severely reduced visibility, making it unsafe for flights to operate at Tenzing-Hillary Airport , the main gateway to Mount Everest and surrounding peaks.

Since Thursday, all flights have been grounded due to persistent rain and poor visibility, according to Surendra Thapa, Assistant Chief District Officer of Solukhumbu district. Many tourists who had returned to Lukla after trekking to the Everest base camp are now unable to secure flights back to Kathmandu.

During the peak tourist season, dozens of flights normally operate each day, but the current weather conditions have led to a complete halt in air traffic. Hotels in Lukla and nearby Namche Bazaar are fully booked, accommodating stranded visitors who had planned to leave the region after their treks.

Amrit Magar, in charge of Tara Airlines at Lukla, reported that approximately 1,500 tourists with booked tickets remain stuck due to the flight cancellations. The Weather Forecasting Division of Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in Kathmandu warns that heavy rain and snowfall are expected to continue, with no immediate relief in sight. Rain is forecast to affect mountainous and hilly areas, including Koshi Province, for the coming days.

With inputs from PTI