Key facts
- About 30 people have been killed by new landslides and heavy rain in Nepal.
- Over 1,900 families have been affected, with more than 240 homes damaged.
- Hundreds of trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit have been evacuated by helicopter.
- A landslide near Chame caused a temporary lake that inundated houses and a bridge.
- No fatalities have been reported within the Annapurna trekking region.
- Around 700 trekkers are currently waiting in Pokhara to begin the Annapurna Circuit.
A new wave of landslides and heavy rain has killed approximately 30 people in Nepal, adding to the devastation from August's catastrophic flooding that left 1,400 dead. The national disaster management authority reported that over 1,900 families have been affected since late last week, with more than 240 homes damaged and infrastructure such as roads, buildings, and bridges swept away.
Hundreds of trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit, a vital economic route for Nepal, have been forced to cut short their journeys and seek safety. Many have been evacuated by helicopter from the districts of Manang and Mustang. Trekkers and their guides described treacherous journeys lasting several days, requiring them to navigate collapsed roads and cross numerous landslides. Some, like Jake Stacy from Suffolk, had to create their own paths on mountain slopes due to heavy snowfall and impassable routes.
Andrew Graham and his guide Prem KC reported crossing over 15 landslides, with some being particularly dangerous. They were temporarily stranded in Chame, a village that had been evacuated due to landslide risks. A significant landslide near Chame has partially blocked a river, creating a temporary lake that has inundated houses and a key bridge. Authorities have been attempting to manage the water release for three days without significant success.
Trekking guide Tse Ring Doma noted the significant mental stress on her group, who crossed 28 landslides, compounded by the recent memory of last month's disaster. Her client, Ellen Wahlström, highlighted the fortune of visitors who might only lose belongings, unlike locals who risk losing homes and land. Despite the challenges, authorities have been clearing landslides with notable speed.
While road damage in Manang is severe, with communication disruptions in some areas, no fatalities have occurred within the trekking region itself, according to chief district officer Mukti Prasad Khanal. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project stated that around 700 trekkers are currently waiting in Pokhara to begin the Annapurna Circuit, with the trekking industry pressuring authorities to reopen the route. Indian visitors to the Muktinath temple have been advised to fly from Jomson to Pokhara due to road closures.