Kathmandu gets first snowfall in 63 years

Wed Feb 14, 1:07 PM ET

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Snow fell on Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, for the first time in 63 years on Wednesday, stirring excitement and curiosity among residents and their children.

"I have never seen it snow in Kathmandu in all my life," said 45-year-old housewife Manju Shrestha, playing in the snow with her young children.

Weather officials said the brief snowfall, which lasted only a few minutes, was the result of a "westerly disturbance" over Nepal that earlier in the week caused heavy rains.

Though the Himalayan country is home to
Mount Everest, Kathmandu, with a population of 1.5 million people, is situated in a valley and has not had snow since January 1944, according to Independent Kantipur television.

It said one young man was killed in the icy weather in the western Palpa district.

Snow disrupted flights and road transport in several outlying areas of the country, but Kathmandu airport was functioning as normal.