ACAP: 25 Altitude-Sickness Deaths in the Annapurna Region in FY 2025/26
| Event date | Fiscal year 2025/26 (data released 22 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | Annapurna Conservation Area — mostly Mustang and Manang |
| Type | Trekking accidents; altitude illness; safety data |
| Deaths | 25 from altitude sickness (up from 19 the year before), plus 5 in falls and weather-related accidents |
| Verification | Verified (ACAP data) |
| Status | Annual figure |
Data from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project showed 25 visitors died of altitude sickness in the conservation area in Nepal’s fiscal year 2025/26, up from 19 the previous year. Twelve were Nepali, including four guides or porters; nine were Indian; and one each came from Japan, Mexico, Spain and Singapore. Five more died in separate falls and bad-weather accidents.
The deaths were concentrated where roads now reach high ground: 15 in Mustang and 8 in Manang, with one at Annapurna Base Camp and one on the Mardi Himal route. ACAP’s chief, Dr Rabin Kadel, said acute mountain sickness is especially common among Nepali and Indian visitors who drive straight up to high sites such as Muktinath without acclimatising. The standard advice applies: above about 3,000 metres, gain no more than roughly 500 metres of sleeping altitude a day, and go down at once if symptoms appear.
Sources
- The Himalayan Times — "25 tourists die of altitude sickness in Annapurna region in FY 2025/26"
- The Farsight Nepal — ACAP figures
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Written in Merolog’s own words from the sources listed; where sources disagree, each figure is attributed rather than merged. Spotted an error or a newer figure? Leave a comment on this entry.