There is no life in mountains : Qatari Princess Al Thani

Solukhumbu, Apr.24: Standing in the shadows of Mount Everest, Qatari Princess and Everest climber Sheikha Asma Al Thani has expressed serious concern over the rapid changes taking place in the Himalayan region. 

Speaking at a climbers’ conference in Thame—a village already battered by glacial floods—Princess Thani described the state of the mountains as “lifeless” compared to her first visit in 2019.

She said, "The melting of snow on mountains like Everest is a threat not only to Nepal, but to the entire global community."

“I climbed Everest in 2019 and was mesmerized by its beauty and vitality,” she said. “But now, I return to find bare rocks where snow once lay, blackened cliffs, and a silence that speaks of loss. There is no life in these mountains anymore.”

She pointed out that the natural disaster of 2023, a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), wreaked havoc here, displacing dozens of families, destroying power lines, and severing road links. 

“These are not isolated disasters,” Princess Thani stressed. “They are symptoms of a much larger, man-made emergency. And it’s not something Nepal can or should bear alone.”

She also showed concern about perishing snow in the snow-covered Himalaya. “Everest is no longer the white peak we remember from photos,” said a local climber. “It’s a fragile mountain now, and it needs protection, not just admiration.”