Due to foggy weather conditions, flights have been disrupted at Tumlingtar Airport, the only airport serving the eastern Himalayan and hilly districts. The Bardibas-Hussainpur and Tumlingtar roads have been impassable for three days due to heavy fog. Rajiv Pokharel, a Buddhi Air Tumlingtar employee, stated that there has been insufficient visibility for flights to land for three days. He mentioned that there needs to be a minimum visibility of three to five thousand meters for flight operations to resume, but due to thick fog in Hussainpur and Tumlingtar, visibility has been reduced to almost zero.
The fog has enveloped the vicinity of Hussainpur and Tumlingtar airports. Passengers have been stranded for three days with flights unable to arrive. Travelers will have to journey through mostly unpaved roads, especially from Khandbari to Dharan-Viratnagar. The district lacks major hospitals and educational institutions, compelling residents to travel to Dharan, Viratnagar, and even Kathmandu. Tumlingtar Airport serves not only the Sankhuwasabha district but also significant portions of Bhojpur Municipality and rural municipalities like Salpa and Silichho, making it a convenient option for residents of those areas to reach Viratnagar and Kathmandu.
Tumlingtar Airport operates daily flights using a Buddha Air ATR 72 aircraft owned by a private company. Although previously operated by Guna Airlines, it is currently closed. Nepal Airlines Corporation has ceased flights to Tumlingtar for a long time.
