Trekkers helicoptered off mountains as more deadly landslides hit Nepal
A month after mass catastrophic flooding, around 30 people have died in landslides and heavy rain.
In Nepal, a series of landslides and heavy rain have claimed at least 30 lives, exacerbating the aftermath of August's devastating floods that left 1,400 dead and thousands missing. Over 1,900 families have been impacted since late last week, with more than 240 homes damaged, and critical infrastructure such as roads, buildings, and bridges destroyed.
The Annapurna Circuit, a vital economic hub for Nepal, has seen trekkers cut their journeys short to reach safety, with many being airlifted out of Manang and Mustang districts.
In Battar, a town north-west of Kathmandu, locals have been struggling to cope with the relentless rain, which has turned their tents into leaky shelters. Buti Tamang and Ramesh Ghale recounted their harrowing experiences, losing relatives and homes, and facing treacherous hikes down the mountains, taking up to three or four days through collapsed roads and washed-out bridges.
Jake Stacy, a 21-year-old from Suffolk, had to make a perilous journey through mountain slopes after being stranded in Yak Kharka due to heavy snowfall. Australian Andrew Graham and his guide Prem KC faced 15 landslides as they retraced their steps from Manang village, with some landslides proving particularly dangerous. They were forced to spend a night in the jungle after becoming stuck in Chame, a town evacuated due to landslide risks.
Trekking guide Tse Ring Doma and her group encountered 28 landslides during their journey. The mental toll of the recurring disaster was more challenging than the physical strain, as even the sound of thunder made her and her clients wary. Her Norwegian client, Ellen Wahlström, noted that while visitors might lose some belongings, locals risked losing their homes and land. Authorities have been clearing landslides rapidly, though some road damage remains severe.
Four bodies have been recovered, and 12 people are missing after an avalanche near Himlung Peak's base, close to Tibet. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project reported that around 700 trekkers are still stranded in Pokhara, awaiting to embark on the circuit. Despite pressure from the trekking industry to reopen the route, the local trekking authority has hesitated.
Indian visitors, who often undertake a Hindu pilgrimage to Muktinath temple, have been advised to fly to Pokhara instead of driving due to a road closure. Most of the Annapurna Circuit's traditional paths have lain dormant, but now some trekkers are utilizing these abandoned trails, as the main roads have been washed away in certain sections.
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