Nepal's mountains turn deadly as monsoon rains trigger cascading landslides

The Himalayan peaks that draw mountaineers and trekkers from across the globe have become a killing ground. In the past month, Nepal has endured two successive climate catastrophes: first a deluge that killed hundreds, now a cascade of landslides triggered by persistent heavy rain that continues to destabilize the terrain. Rescue helicopters have been airlifting stranded trekkers from high-altitude camps as the ground beneath them shifts and fails.

Around 30 people have died in the latest wave of landslides and flooding, according to Nepali officials. The toll includes hikers, porters, and local residents in villages nestled in the foothills and valleys. The speed of the disaster—occurring barely a month after the first catastrophic event—suggests that Nepal's mountain infrastructure and early-warning systems are struggling to keep pace with the intensity of the climate shocks now striking the region.

For trekking companies, tourism operators, and the mountain communities that depend on the climbing season, the repeated disasters pose an existential question. The Everest and Annapurna circuits, which generate millions of dollars annually for Nepal's economy, are now seen as increasingly hazardous during what should be the safest season of the year.