More than 100 foreign tourists trekking through central Nepal remain stranded after severe flooding destroyed sections of hiking trails and bridges, leaving authorities racing to evacuate those unable to return safely.
The flooding followed a landslide in Gorkha district, approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Kathmandu, which blocked the Budhi Gandaki River over the weekend and triggered flooding downstream.
Nepalese authorities said 321 people, including 12 foreign nationals, were rescued on Monday. The army confirmed that rescue operations would continue on Tuesday, although the river’s water level had begun to fall.
Flooding Disrupts Popular Trekking Route
Bhuwan Raj Ojha, an official with the Manaslu Conservation Area Project, said more than 100 foreign trekkers remained scattered across different locations because parts of the trekking route had been washed away.
He explained that arrangements would be needed for visitors who wished to leave the area, while those who wanted to continue their journeys could do so from locations considered safe.
“Those hikers who want to return because of the flood need to be rescued. Those who want to continue their trekking can do so from locations that are safe,” Ojha said.
He added that restaurants and tea houses along the route remained safe, offering shelter to trekkers unable to move immediately.
Five Villagers Missing After Homes Are Swept Away
Although no deaths had been reported in the latest flooding, five villagers remained unreachable after torrents of muddy water and debris swept away homes and damaged infrastructure, according to Nepal’s disaster management authorities.
The flooding also damaged three hydroelectric plants, adding to concerns about the impact on essential infrastructure in the affected region.
The Budhi Gandaki River flows into the Trishuli River, which lies downstream from another tributary that experienced a catastrophic flood in August following a glacier collapse.
That earlier disaster killed 1,457 people, while thousands remained missing, underscoring the severe risks posed by sudden flooding in Nepal’s mountainous regions.
Landslide May Have Triggered River Flooding
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said preliminary accounts from Nepalese authorities suggested that the latest flood may have resulted from the sudden failure of a temporary blockage in the river created by a landslide.
Such blockages can cause water to accumulate before suddenly breaking, releasing large volumes of water and debris downstream.
ICIMOD Director General Pema Gyamtsho said the incident highlighted the continuing dangers facing mountain communities and areas located along river corridors.
“This event is another reminder of how exposed mountain communities and river corridors remain to sudden, cascading hazards,” Gyamtsho said.
Authorities were expected to continue rescue efforts as they assessed the situation and worked to reach stranded trekkers and villagers in affected locations.
