Kathmandu: More than 100 foreign trekkers remain stranded in a flood hit region of central Nepal after a landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River and triggered sudden flooding, damaging homes, bridges and other infrastructure. Rescue operations are continuing as authorities work to evacuate stranded visitors and assist affected communities.
According to reports published on Monday, 96 people, including nine foreign nationals, had been rescued. Five local residents remained unaccounted for, and no deaths had been reported from the latest flooding at the time of reporting. The rescue operation is ongoing, and authorities have yet to confirm that all stranded trekkers have been accounted for.
The flooding occurred in Gorkha district, around 100 kilometres west of Kathmandu. The affected region includes the popular Manaslu trekking area, which attracts visitors during Nepal's autumn trekking season. The sudden flooding disrupted travel and raised concerns about the safety of trekkers and residents living along the river.
The disaster began when a landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River near Chumnubri village. The blockage temporarily held back the river before water surged downstream, carrying mud and debris into nearby settlements. Reports have also identified Chumchure village in connection with the incident, although the exact relationship between the two locations remains unclear.
The sudden release of water damaged houses, bridges and other structures along the river. Several trekking routes were also affected, leaving visitors unable to continue their journeys safely. The full extent of the damage remains uncertain as authorities assess the affected areas.
The Nepal Army and other response teams are involved in rescue and relief operations. Helicopters and ground teams have been used to evacuate people and deliver essential supplies to affected communities. Food, tents and medicine have been among the relief items provided, particularly in areas that are difficult to reach by road.
Authorities are also working to establish the whereabouts of the five local residents reported missing. Their identities and current status have not been confirmed in the reports available. Rescue teams continue to face the challenge of reaching isolated settlements and checking on people in the affected region.
The flooding has also affected homes, farms, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. Three hydropower facilities or construction sites were reported to have been affected, although the precise extent of the damage remains unclear. Reports have differed on the number of bridges and houses damaged, and a final official assessment was not available at the time of reporting.
The Nepal Tourism Board has urged trekkers, guides and visitors to exercise extreme caution in the affected region. Its safety guidance advises people to move to higher ground near swollen waterways, avoid riverbanks and bridges, and follow instructions from local authorities. Visitors have also been advised to check route conditions with officials and accommodation providers before continuing their journeys.
Although floodwaters have receded, damaged trails, bridges and river crossings may remain dangerous. The easing of the flooding does not necessarily mean that trekking routes are safe to use. Authorities have not confirmed that all stranded visitors can leave the area without assistance or that affected routes can reopen.
The latest flooding comes as Nepal continues to recover from a separate major disaster in August. Reports put the death toll from that earlier event near the Nepal China border at 1,457, with thousands of people still missing. On 5 October, the government ended search and rescue operations for that disaster and shifted its attention towards recovery and infrastructure repairs.
The August disaster and the October flooding are separate incidents. The immediate cause of the latest flooding was a landslide that blocked the Budhi Gandaki River before water surged downstream. The available reports do not establish a direct link between the two events.
The immediate priorities remain reaching stranded trekkers, locating the missing residents and providing essential supplies to affected communities. Authorities must also assess the damage to homes, bridges and trekking routes before normal travel can safely resume. The final number of people still awaiting assistance and the full extent of the damage remain unclear.