Kathmandu, Aug 10: In the last fiscal year (2081/82), 18 tourists died from altitude sickness in Nepal’s Annapurna region, slightly fewer than the 20 deaths reported in 2080/81. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) links this rise in fatalities to rapid travel to high-altitude areas made possible by expanded road access.
Among those who died in 2080/81, there were five Nepalis, 11 Indians, one each from the UK and Ukraine, and two Malaysians. In 2081/82 ( 2024/2025), the victims included six Nepalis, eight Indians, and one each from the US, South Korea, Germany, and Switzerland.
ACAP chief Robin Kadariya says hurried travel is the main cause. Tourists are rushed from Pokhara to Mustang’s Muktinath and back in a single day, leaving little time for their bodies to adjust to the sharp rise in altitude. “Visitors living at low altitudes often cannot adapt quickly enough, causing severe altitude sickness that can be fatal,” Kadariya said.
He recommends tourists rest at least one night in Jomsom (Mustang) or Manang villages before going higher. The risk is higher when travelers speed through areas like Tilicho Lake (4,919 meters) and Thorong La Pass (5,416 meters).
Indian tourists make up the largest group of fatalities, mainly older visitors coming to Muktinath, which sits at 3,710 meters. “Tourists must assess their health before ascending. Those with health issues should avoid the journey,” Kadariya stressed.
The Gandaki Hotel Association has also appealed to travel agencies and tour operators to avoid rushing tourists to high altitudes within a day, especially from Nepal’s low-lying Terai region. Association chair Hariprasad Sharma Gaire warned that sudden climbs of over 3,700 meters in a single day harm travelers and risk damaging Nepal’s tourism reputation internationally.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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