Ignored safety rules drive up deadly accidents in Phewa Lake

The craze for stand-up paddleboards has brought thrill to Pokhara’s iconic lake, but weak oversight and poor compliance are putting lives at risk.

On June 23, 19-year-old Amar Thapa from Ram Bazar, Pokhara, went to Phewa Lake to try stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), a water sport that has rapidly caught the attention of the city’s youth.