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Nepal Flash Floods Strand 100 Trekkers in Gorkha District — AI-generated representative image: Trekkers on higher ground overlook a flooded river valley in Nepal's Gorkha district after flash floods washed away trails an

Editorial Team

Rescue and evacuation efforts underway after landslides wash away Manaslu trekking route bridges and trails.

More than 100 foreign trekkers are stranded in central Nepal after flash floods in the Gorkha district washed away bridges, hiking trails and hundreds of homes. The flooding began on Sunday when a predawn landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River, roughly 100km (62 miles) west of Kathmandu.

Authorities rescued 321 people, including 12 foreigners, on Monday, and the army said the operation would continue on Tuesday even as water levels receded.

The incident has disrupted one of Nepal's most popular trekking corridors, the Manaslu trail, leaving travelers isolated without power or reliable communication. It also comes just months after a catastrophic glacier-triggered flood in the same river system killed more than 1,400 people, underscoring the region's growing vulnerability to climate-linked disasters.

Rescue and Evacuation Efforts

Bhuwan Raj Ojha, an official of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project, said the trekkers were stranded in different areas of the Manaslu trekking trail because part of the route had been swept away. He noted that restaurants and tea houses along the route remain safe, and that hikers wishing to continue could do so from secure locations while those wanting to leave would need to be rescued.

Gorkha district authorities have asked villagers living along the riverbanks downstream to evacuate. National disaster authorities also issued alerts to people living along the river in the Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, East Nawalparasi and West Nawalparasi districts.

Recent Flooding in the Region

The Budhi Gandaki River is a tributary of the Trishuli River. In August, a glacier collapse on another tributary downstream caused a catastrophic flood that killed 1,457 people, with thousands still listed as missing.

The latest flood caused no reported deaths, but five villagers remained out of contact after black muddy sludge and debris washed away more than 200 homes and damaged infrastructure, including three hydroelectric plants, according to national disaster authorities.

Stranded Trekkers' Accounts

Md Shahadat Hossain, a Bangladeshi trekker stranded in Jagat village, said nine Bangladeshis were waiting for a possible helicopter evacuation. "We have been stranded in Jagat since yesterday. A flash flood came down from above the village and flowed through its lower part," he said.

"We are safe, but there has been no electricity since yesterday, communication with the outside world has been disrupted, and food supplies are gradually running short," he added.

What Happens Next

The army has confirmed that rescue operations will continue on Tuesday as water levels in the Budhi Gandaki River recede. The priority remains evacuating trekkers who wish to return, while authorities assess the full extent of damage to homes, trails and hydroelectric infrastructure across the affected districts.