More Than 100 Trekkers Are Stuck Where the Trail Used to Be

A flood on the Budhi Gandaki River in Nepal’s Gorkha district has left more than 100 foreign trekkers stranded along the Manaslu route, according to Reuters. The district lies about 100 kilometers west of Kathmandu. Officials said a landslide blocked the river on Sunday and that the flood may have followed when that temporary blockage failed.

The water swept away footpaths and bridges, destroyed homes, and damaged infrastructure including three hydroelectric plants. No deaths were reported, but five villagers were out of contact. Early reports said 96 people, including nine foreigners, had been rescued, while a later regional roundup put Monday’s rescues at 321 people, including 12 foreigners, so the counts differ by source.

A conservation project official said trekkers who want to leave need rescue, while those who want to continue can do so from safe locations, and that tea houses and restaurants along the route are safe. Operators say the region is not yet safe, and conditions will be assessed route by route. The Nepal Tourism Board has warned trekkers against dangerous river crossings, and no reopening date has been announced.

Anyone with a Manaslu booking should contact their operator before traveling and check what their insurance covers, since parts of the trail no longer exist. Investigators are expected to look at what triggered the flood, and the army said rescue operations would continue as water levels fall.

Sources: Khaleej Times (Reuters), The Star