Altitude Sickness Claims 13 Lives in Nepal This Fiscal Year as Trekking Risks Persist

Nepal continues to grapple with the deadly risks of high-altitude travel, with 13 people dying from altitude sickness by May 28 in the current fiscal year, according to the reported figures. The victims included nine foreign tourists and four Nepali citizens, highlighting how altitude-related illness remains a serious threat for both visitors and locals in mountain regions.

Among the deceased were seven foreign men, two foreign women, three Nepali men, and one Nepali woman. The numbers show that altitude sickness is not a niche trekking problem, but a recurring safety challenge in Nepal's high elevations where rapid ascent can overwhelm the body.

Recent reporting from Mustang, one of Nepal's best-known high-altitude destinations, shows how acute the issue has become. In the past year, 11 tourists died of altitude sickness in Mustang district, including nine foreign backpackers and two Nepalis, with authorities saying many of the cases involved visitors heading to Muktinath and other high-altitude sites.

Altitude sickness can develop when people ascend too quickly to elevations above 2,500 meters, where reduced oxygen levels can trigger acute mountain sickness and, in severe cases, life-threatening complications such as high-altitude pulmonary edema or high-altitude cerebral edema. Medical experts emphasize that prevention, gradual acclimatization, and prompt descent remain the most effective safeguards.

The recurring fatalities also point to a broader tourism challenge for Nepal: how to balance the appeal of world-class Himalayan destinations with stronger safety systems, traveler awareness, and emergency response capacity. Trekking corridors, especially in popular districts like Mustang and the Annapurna region, continue to draw large numbers of visitors, but the risks rise sharply when altitude is underestimated.

For trekkers, the lesson is clear. Proper acclimatization, awareness of early symptoms, and respect for elevation gains are essential. For Nepal's tourism sector, the latest fatalities are another reminder that high-altitude adventure must be matched by stronger prevention, rescue, and medical support.