Nepal landslides kill 30, force trekker

Heavy rain has triggered landslides and flooding that have killed about 30 people and affected thousands of families in Nepal. The national disaster management authority reports more than 1,900 families affected since late last week, with over 240 homes damaged.

A massive landslide partially blocked a river through Chame, creating a temporary lake that flooded houses and a key bridge. Authorities have attempted to release water from the temporary lake using excavators for three days without success. In a separate incident, four bodies have been recovered and 12 people remain missing after an avalanche near Himlung Peak.

Trekking routes cut off by landslides

Major landslides have blocked roads and bridges, forcing trekkers to evacuate and use alternative paths. Hundreds of trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit have cut short their hikes to evacuate. Hundreds more have been helicoptered out of Manang and Mustang districts. No one has been killed in the trekking region, according to chief district officer Mukti Prasad Khanal.

Trekkers reported journeys back down the mountains taking up to three or four days due to collapsed roads and swept-away bridges. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project reports that many trekkers are using abandoned trails to return due to washed-out main roads. Trekkers faced treacherous conditions including steep slopes, mud, and river crossings.

One trekking guide, Tse Ring Doma, said she and her group crossed 28 landslides. Australian trekker Andrew Graham and his guide Prem KC crossed more than 15 landslides. Jake Stacy, a 21-year-old from Suffolk, was stranded in Yak Kharka due to heavy snowfall.

Evacuations and travel disruptions

Indian pilgrims visiting Muktinath have been asked to fly from Jomson to Pokhara instead of driving due to cut-off roads. Around 700 trekkers are waiting in Pokhara to begin the Annapurna Circuit trek, which typically takes up to three weeks to complete.

Wider context of destruction

The Himalayan nation is recovering from August's catastrophic flooding that killed 1,400 people and left thousands missing. The current landslides have left many residents displaced and in precarious conditions.

Buti Tamang, a local resident, described the loss: "We used to live in a hut, but now there is nothing. We have lost so many of our relatives." Another, Ramesh Ghale, highlighted the ongoing struggle, saying, "Now it is raining and the tent leaks, so we've been facing a difficult situation. We have nowhere to go."

About 700 trekkers were still waiting in Pokhara to embark on the Annapurna Circuit.