The normal life in the far-western region has been affected following heavy snowfall for the last two days.

The snowfall has affected the normal life of people in Doti, Dadeldhura, Baitadi and Darchula districts.

According to locals this is the biggest snowfall in last fourty years.

Dozens of vehicles have been stranded at Hagulte Lek on the Bhimdatta Highway following the heavy rain and snowfall. The vehicles coming from Dipayal have been stuck at Sau Kharka of Dadeldhura district and hundreds of passengers have been stranded there. A number of vehicles coming fronm Baitadi and Bajhang and heading for different destinations like Mahendranagar, Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj had not reached Dadeldhura till late in the evening, according to reports.

Temperature has drastically dropped due to the snowfall and the stranded passengers have been facing hard times to find shelter and food. A snowfall of up to two feet in thickness was measured at the Doti district headquarters at 2 pm today and heavy snowfall continued in Hagulte and the nearby areas.

The thickness of snow along the 17-km section of the Highway from Syaule to Gahira was almost 5 to 6 feet, report quoted Tek Bahadur Bohra, a driver who returned from Hagulte, as saying.

The hills around the region have been totally covered with the snow. Electricity supply in Dadeldhura, Baitadi and Doti districts has been disrupted following the heavy snowfall.

Chief of the Road Division Office at Kulpate, Dipayal, Bharat Kaji Dewal said dozers have been sent to clear the snow off the road and resume the traffic as soon as possible.