More Than 100 Foreign Trekkers Stranded in Flood-Hit Central Nepal

Rescue operations pressed on Monday in central Nepal even as floodwaters began to recede, with more than 100 foreign trekkers still unable to leave the region after weekend flooding destroyed hiking trails and bridges. The army said the rescue effort was continuing into Monday. No fatalities have been reported, though five villagers remain out of contact. The flood carried black muddy sludge and debris that washed away homes and damaged infrastructure, including three hydroelectric plants, according to national disaster authorities.

The flooding followed a landslide on Sunday in Gorkha district, about 100 km (62 miles) west of Kathmandu, that blocked the Budhi Gandaki River and sent water surging downstream. Authorities rescued 96 people, nine of them foreigners, after the river burst through the landslide dam.

Bhuwan Raj Ojha, an official with the Manaslu Conservation Area Project, which covers a popular trekking route, said the stranded trekkers were spread across different areas and could not return because sections of the trail had been swept away. He told Reuters that those wanting to head back because of the flood need to be rescued, while those who wish to keep trekking can continue from locations that are safe. Restaurants and tea houses along the route are safe, he added.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said the flood may have been triggered when a temporary river blockage created by the landslide gave way, based on preliminary accounts from Nepali authorities that the organization reviewed. Pema Gyamtsho, ICIMOD's director general, said the event is another reminder of how exposed mountain communities and river corridors remain to sudden, cascading hazards. He said response efforts must stay the immediate priority, but that understanding what caused the flood will be critical for reducing future risks and building resilience.

The Budhi Gandaki is a tributary of the Trishuli River, downstream from another tributary where a glacier collapse in August caused a catastrophic flood. That earlier disaster killed 1,457 people, with thousands still missing.