Five die on Annapurna Trek route last year

MANANG: Five people lost their lives on the Annapurna Trekking route last fiscal year.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek, known for its stunning beauty, is also one of the world’s most hazardous treks, ranking as the 10th most risky globally.

The deceased are an US citizen, an Indian national, a Briton, and two Nepalis.

According to Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, Chief of the Annapurna Area Conservation Project (ACAP) unit, the majority of the fatalities here so far are attributed to high-altitude sickness.

The 69-year-old US citizen died after falling off a cliff at Khotro of Naso Rural Municipality-3 in Manang while the 35-year-old tourist from India succumbed to high-altitude sickness at Todanda of Manang Ngisyang Rural Municipality-9.  The Briton was found dead in a hotel room in Meta, Narpabhumi Rural Municipality-2.

Hari Adhikari (35) of Phulkharka in Ganga Jamuna Rural Municipality, a porter, died of altitude sickness near the Chulubes Camp in Manang Ngisyang-6.

Dadhiram Dangi (49) of Ghorahi Sub-Metropolis-9 in Dang, passed away near the Tiliho Base Camp. An autopsy report of Dangi is awaited.

Binod Gurung, Chair of the Tourism Entrepreneurs Association of Manang, stressed the need to know the weather conditions in Manang before embarking on the trek.

Weather in Manang demands a gradual adaptation process and neglecting this may significantly increase the risk of high-altitude sickness.