Sad news from Bajura. The late-October snowstorm caught a small group of young trekkers on the Badimalika route, and one of them did not come back. Here is everything confirmed so far, in order, with sources at the end.
What happened
A group of five left Martadi, the Bajura district headquarters, for Badimalika Temple on 25 October. Badimalika is at about 4,200 metres, so it gets hit hard when snow comes.
On the way back, snowfall blocked the route. The three members from eastern Nepal made it back safely. Two young men from Kanchanpur did not.
Sagar Karki, 21, of Krishnapur Municipality-2, Kanchanpur, took shelter at a pilgrims' shelter from Friday (30 October). On Saturday (31 October) he was airlifted by helicopter from Triveni Patan and flown to Martadi. District officials said his condition was normal.
Manish Bohara, 20, of Bedkot Municipality, Kanchanpur, lost contact on Friday while returning from Badimalika. A Nepal Army team from the Ishwaribaks Battalion in Martadi was flown into the snow area to search. On Sunday morning (1 November) the team found his body near Triveni Patan. Chief District Officer Muktiram Rijal confirmed it, and authorities were arranging to airlift the body and the search team out of the snowbound area. The cause of death has not been reported yet.
Hami sabai ko taraf bata Manish ko pariwar lai gahiro samvedana. Om Shanti.
Why there was so much snow
This was the same system that made the Department of Immigration stop restricted-area trekking permits for 29 to 31 October. On 28 October, DHM meteorologist Binu Maharjan said the effect of Cyclone Arnab was already being seen in Nepal, with rain and snowfall forecast in the mountains up to Saturday 31 October, especially in Karnali and Sudurpaschim. NDRRMA had asked tourists to stay in safe places in high hill and Himalayan areas during those days.
The snow was not only in Bajura. In Karnali, snowfall was reported in Humla, Mugu, Jumla, Dolpa and Kalikot. In Humla, roads to Hilsa and Limi were blocked. In Dolpa, the CDO stopped hikers going to Upper Dolpa from 29 October, and six tourists had to be rescued there (see the Dolpa thread already on the forum).
What this means if you are planning a trek this Tihar
1. Check the DHM weather forecast (mfd.gov.np) before you leave and again on the trail if you have signal. If there is a snow or heavy rain warning, wait in the village. 2. Badimalika, Khaptad and other far-west routes have long stretches with no mobile network. Tell family your exact plan and the day you expect to be back, and agree what they should do if you do not call. 3. Stay together as a group, especially on the way down in bad weather. Nobody should walk alone in fresh snow. 4. If the trail is covered in fresh snow, stay at the shelter or lodge. Waiting one or two extra days is normal in the mountains. Keep warm clothes, a headlamp, some dry food and a power bank even on a "short" pilgrimage trek. 5. If someone goes missing, call the police on 100 and inform the District Administration Office quickly.
Badimalika is usually busy at the Janai Purnima mela, but people go in other seasons too. After this week, please treat it like a real high-altitude trek, not a simple temple walk.
Has anyone here been to Badimalika outside the mela time? How is the route from Martadi to Triveni Patan, and where are the shelters? Please share so the next group is better prepared.
Sources: https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/snow-stranded-trekker-airlifted-from-badimalika-as-search-continues-for-missing-youth https://thehimalayantimes.com/world-cup-2026/one-rescued-one-dies-after-snowstorm-strands-travellers-in-badimalika https://himalayantribune.com/2026/10/28/cyclone-arnab-rain-expected-in-various-parts-of-the-country-starting-thursday/ https://himalayantribune.com/2026/10/31/rains-snowfall-affect-daily-life-in-higher-regions-of-karnali/ https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepal-suspends-restricted-area-trekking-permits-amid-snowstorm-avalanche-risk