Langtag Valley reopened for Foot Trail

Kathmandu October 5- The foot trail to Langtang Valley, a major tourist destination in the country, has finally been reopened after almost six months in Rasuwa district. The trail to Langtang area was blocked due to the earthquake of April 25.

The trail has been reopened keeping in mind the tourist season. Locals and Nepal Army soldiers from Narayandal Battalion contributed to open the trail. Following the construction, a team led by the chief of the battalion inspect the area. The battalion informed that there are still 10 soldiers, some tourists and locals missing in the area.The team will also study about the geography of the  area. As the tourist season has arrived, they will identify the viability of the area. Locals, army and police have constructed 12 kilometres of trail.

The trail has been constructed from Khamjing, Sherpagaun, Rimche, Chandham, Riverside, Ghodatabela, Thangsyap and up to Langtang. The constructed trial is a bit longer than the shorter one along Syaphru, Doman, Pahiro and Bembo to Rimche. However, the way from Syaphru to Rimche has been swept away after heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, some locals of Langtang have reached their village via helicopters, and tourists have also increased in the area from September. “The trail is good to go now,” said Hari Bhadra Acharya, Chief Conservation Officer of Langtang National Park. “We are going to revive Langtang area for tourists,” said Acharya. The devastating quake and aftershocks have collapsed the geography of Langtang village.

Before the quake, around 15, 000 tourists used to visit Langtang area each year. There are still 106 people missing in the area. Six hundred and sixty one people have died whereas police had handed over 658 bodies after the deadly avalanche triggered by the earthquake swept away an entire village. Source: The Kathmandu Post