Nepal: A fresh wave of heavy rain and landslides has killed around 30 people and disrupted trekking routes across the country, forcing hundreds of trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit to abandon their journeys and seek evacuation.
How Many People Have Been Affected?
Nepal’s disaster management authorities said more than 1,900 families have been affected since late last week, while more than 240 homes have been damaged. Roads, bridges and buildings have also been swept away, leaving communities struggling to recover.
Why Are Trekkers Being Evacuated?
Hundreds of trekkers and their guides have faced dangerous conditions in the Manang and Mustang districts. Many have been evacuated by helicopter after landslides, heavy snowfall and damaged roads made travel increasingly difficult.
Some trekkers reported spending several days navigating collapsed roads, damaged bridges and landslide-hit mountain paths. Around 700 trekkers remain in Pokhara waiting for authorities to reopen the Annapurna Circuit.
What Happened Around Chame?
A major landslide near Chame partially blocked a river, creating a temporary lake that has inundated homes and a key bridge. Authorities have been using excavators to release the trapped water, but efforts have so far had limited success.
Four bodies have also been recovered and 12 people remain missing following an avalanche near Himlung Peak, close to Nepal’s border with Tibet.
Why Is the Situation Critical?
The latest disaster comes after catastrophic flooding in August that killed around 1,400 people and left thousands missing. Emergency shelters are now housing displaced residents, while continued rainfall and unstable mountain terrain are complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
Officials have continued to restrict access to parts of the Annapurna Circuit despite pressure from the trekking industry to reopen the route.