Thirteen Die of Altitude Sickness in Mustang, Including Nine Foreign Tourists

Mustang, May 31: Thirteen people, including nine foreign nationals, have died from high-altitude sickness in Mustang as of May 29 this year, according to district authorities.

The victims were among pilgrims and tourists visiting the Muktinath area, a popular religious and tourism destination located at a high altitude. The District Police Office said the deaths occurred after the individuals fell ill in the Waragung Muktinath and Gharapjhong rural municipality areas and later succumbed while undergoing treatment at the provincial hospital in Jomsom.

Police Inspector Santosh Basyal said three of the deceased were Nepali citizens, while the remaining nine were foreign visitors.

Altitude sickness continues to pose a serious health risk in Nepal’s mountain regions, particularly in Mustang, Manang and the Annapurna area, where low oxygen levels above 3,000 metres can affect visitors who are not properly acclimatized.

In response, local authorities, the Provincial Public Health Office, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and security agencies have stepped up awareness campaigns. Information boards have been installed along major trekking and pilgrimage routes, while hotels in the Muktinath area have been provided with portable oxygen cylinders and emergency medicines.

Despite these measures, officials say inadequate information and preparation among visitors remain major factors contributing to altitude-related illnesses and fatalities.