Helicopters Rescue Trekkers as Nepal Is Hit by Fresh Landslides After Deadly August Floods

Dozens are feared dead as heavy rain strands trekkers and destroys roads and bridges

Distant view of Annapurna — Trekkers in the Annapurna Circuit face landslides, flooded roads and dangerous descents as helicopters fly hundreds to safety across storm-hit Nepal Ali Sabbagh/Wikimedia Commons

Fresh landslides and heavy rain have reportedly killed about 30 people in Nepal, as the country continues to recover from catastrophic flooding in August. Hundreds of trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit have cut short their journeys, with many flown out of the districts of Manang and Mustang by helicopter.

The route is a major part of Nepal's tourism industry. But roads, bridges and buildings have been swept away, leaving some trekkers facing difficult journeys down the mountains. Nepal's national disaster management authority said more than 1,900 families had been affected since late last week, while more than 240 homes had been damaged.

Families Left With Little Shelter After Landslides

Local resident Buti Tamang said that his family had lived in a hut in Battar, north-west of Kathmandu, but had now lost their home and several relatives. Ramesh Ghale, who also fled his home, said he was staying in an emergency tent that leaked during the rain and that he had nowhere else to go.

Several communities have been left dealing with deaths and widespread damage following the latest storms. Several trekkers and guides said their journeys down from the mountains had taken three or four days. They were forced to cross collapsed roads, damaged paths and bridges that had been swept away.

What Trekkers Faced on the Annapurna Circuit

Jake Stacy, a 21-year-old from Suffolk, said heavy snowfall had stranded him and his guide in Yak Kharka, in upper Manang, last week.

He decided not to continue towards the Thorang La pass, the highest point on the Annapurna Circuit. Stacy said they made their own paths across steep, muddy slopes above a river before reaching Pokhara on Tuesday night.

Australian trekker Andrew Graham and his guide, Prem KC, said they crossed more than 15 landslides after deciding to turn back from Manang village. They became stranded in Chame, which had been evacuated because of the landslide risk, and spent a night in the jungle.

Guide Tse Ring Doma said her group crossed 28 landslides. She said the mental strain had been harder than the physical effort. Many trekkers have been flown out by helicopter from the districts of Manang and Mustang after roads and bridges on the Annapurna Circuit were swept away.

Landslide Creates Lake in Chame

A large landslide has partly blocked a river running through Chame, creating a temporary lake that has flooded houses and a key bridge. Local residents spent three days using excavators to try to release the water, with little success. Road damage has also cut off some communities and disrupted communications.

Manang's chief district officer, Mukti Prasad Khanal, said the damage to roads and bridges in the district was serious. Several bridges had been swept away, while communications were down in some areas.

He said nobody had been killed in the trekking region itself. However, four bodies have been recovered and 12 people remain missing after an avalanche near the base of Himlung Peak, close to the border with Tibet.

The dangers have also hit the Himlung Himal area, where at least 14 Nepali expedition workers are missing after an avalanche. Poor weather has kept helicopters grounded in Kathmandu and Pokhara, delaying rescue efforts at the 7,126-metre peak.