With the trekking route on the Indian side under repairs, over 2,000 residents of the high altitude villages in Vyas valley will have to migrate to their winter abodes in the lower areas via Nepal this year.
The Vyas Valley villagers will have to traverse about 2 km in Nepalese territory as the trekking route on the Indian side used by them normally is being repaired and is not in usable condition, SDM Dharchula RK Pandey said.
Every year, the residents of these villages, mostly tribals, come down from the mountains to spend their winter in the warmer climes of the valley.
The usual descending route in the Indian territory is damaged and cannot be used by load-carrying animals due to ongoing construction activities in that portion of the border, Pandey said.
This year, the Vyas valley villagers will have to cross over into Nepal through a log bridge built over Kali river at Nazang and will have to travel for around 2 km through the neighbouring country to reach their temporary homes in the lower valley via another log bridge built at Lakhanpur on the Indian side, the official said.
Both bridges at Nazang and Lakhanpur have a length of 12 metre and width of 3 metre,the SDM said, adding that winter migration of Vyas valley villagers will begin on November 1.