Fire in Lukla?

[yakshaver]

A fire, apparently started in a private home, has destroyed a lot of properties in Lukla, including lodges. Sonam Lodge, Garden Lodge and South Col lodge are completely destroyed . Property worth more than 7 billion rupees... The guide I usually employ has posted this. We'll see. I hope it is not too drastic but it sounds like it. We'll get more information tomorrow.

It did not say that the runway is affected in any way, or anything related to the airport. Hence I suppose flying to/from Lukla will not be an issue, weather permitting, of course.

I can't recall where those lodges are, so I have no idea what part of Lukla has been affected. Maybe one of you knows.

[Hendrik van Dingenen]

Man, what a shame! people worked so hard to make a decent living there and something so absurd as that happens...

I´m looking now at my LP Lukla´s map and the lodges you said are located around the middle of Lukla, at that long road that takes to the trail do Namche. CLose to those lodges are:

- Summit Lodge
- K2 Sherpa Lodge
- Khumbu Lodge - Porter Clothing Bank (I stayed at this lodge and donnate some clothes and gear at this porter bank)
- Momo Restaurant - Everest Pool House
- Thame Lodge - Kamal Store

If I good remember, this is a heavy habitable area and with lots of stores also, full of infamable stuff as clothes and trekking gear.

Khumbu lodge is a nice and cheap lodge. The owners are kind, the rooms, confortable and even has private toiletes. Hope they are all OK.

[yakshaver]

Yes it is a shame Hendrik. Apparently there were only the four lodges being badly affected, as well as a few private homes...
Sonam apparently is a "luxury" lodge, whatever that means in Lukla...

Kantipur online has now a brief news article in today's edition giving the exact name of the lodges.
Apparently cash was also burned, as people keep large quantities of it up there. I imagine banking facilities are not that crash-hot in Lukla, plus some people don't want the bank/govt to know how much money they really have. A bit like here....

[julia]

Was anyone injured in the fire? I hope not.

Should we set up a fund or something to help?

[Trekwalla]

Here is what Kantipur said:

Fire breaks out in Lukla bazaar; 4 hotels gutted
By Chakra Karki

LUKLA, April 27 - A fire that broke out at a house here in Lukla bazaar
Thursday morning has completely destroyed more than half a dozen houses,
including four hotels.

The blaze that broke out at around 7:15 a.m. at the house of Pasang
Tamang, a local resident of Lukla bazaar, completely destroyed four luxury
resorts.

Police and local residents could bring the fire under control only at
around 11:15 a.m.

According to the preliminary report, property worth Rs. 70 million was
destroyed.

Sonam Lodge, South Col Garden Lodge, Doreji Sherpa Garden Lodge and
Pasang Lama´s lodge were completely destroyed in the fire.

Proprietor of Sonam Lodge claimed that Rs. 2 million in cash was brunt
to ashes in the flame.

Similarly, Pasang Tamang claimed that Rs.1.8 million in cash was
completely burnt in the fire.

http://trekinfo.com/images/lukla fire 27 april small.jpg

[Sharon]

Now that is a photo. Lucky they were able to stop it.:eek:

[hoot72]

Oh man..

This is sad....

I do hope they get themselves back on their feet which I have no doubt they can.....the nepalese are among the hardest working lads around...

I am heading out to Lukla in late september...am doing the EBC trek...hope things are back up and running by then..worst comes to the worst, will bunk in with a family which I dont think will be a problem...

:0

Thanks for the news Yahsav

[Polar]

It wasn't the whole of Lukla that burnt down, it was four lodges I believe. There are dozens of others that you could stay in. You won't have to stay with a family!

[hoot72]

It wasn't the whole of Lukla that burnt down, it was four lodges I believe. There are dozens of others that you could stay in. You won't have to stay with a family!


Yea..I know..but Im a cheap bastard anyways...lol..

I dont make nearly as much as I should from what I do but I was willing to sacrifice the almighty $ to do something I love...

Hence...the cheap bastard I am.....

:)

But I do spend a lil bit when push comes to shove...

I actually get a good nights sleep when I put up with a local family compared to any of the friggin lodges...you just cant bloody sleep with all the noise..