“Thankfully, we did not go,” said Malaysian solo climber Mohd Noor Mat Amin, who is currently based in Nepal, after a trekking trip he was supposed to lead to Langtang Valley was cancelled before the area was hit by severe flooding and landslides yesterday.
Mohd Noor said he was relieved that the group had postponed their planned trek due to technical issues, with the trip now scheduled to take place next year.
The group had originally planned to trek in Langtang Valley from 20 to 30 August, but the decision to delay the journey ultimately kept them away from the disaster-hit area.
“We are grateful that we did not go. We do not know what might have happened if we had continued with the trip.
“If we had already started trekking, perhaps we would have been safe, but the flooding would still have affected the journey and the routes,” he said when contacted by BH.
Mohd Noor, who has frequently guided groups of trekkers in Nepal, said the planned expedition was cancelled after technical problems disrupted the arrangements.
The devastating flooding has nevertheless left him concerned about the safety of other Malaysian trekkers who may still be in the affected areas, particularly around nine Malaysians who remain uncontactable.
He said he knew the group through social media but had never met them in person.
Mohd Noor said the situation was becoming increasingly worrying as several routes and bridges had reportedly been damaged or collapsed, making it difficult for search and rescue teams to reach affected areas.
“The collapsed roads are also affecting search and rescue operations. How can rescuers get there when the bridges have already been washed away?” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nepalese government has reportedly instructed helicopter operators, including private companies, to assist in search and rescue operations for those affected by the disaster.
The deteriorating access routes have added another challenge for rescue teams as they work to locate those still missing amid the widespread flooding and landslides.
