KATHMANDU: Tourists heading toward the Manaslu Conservation Area are stranded after flooding in the Budhigandaki River damaged trekking trails. The flood destroyed parts of the main trekking route and suspension bridges, halting movement in the region.
Bhuwan Raj Ojha, conservation officer at the Manaslu Conservation Area Project, confirmed that all tourists are in safe locations and efforts are underway to rescue them. More than 100 foreign tourists are currently stranded in Jagat, Chumanubri Rural Municipality-3, which serves as the gateway to the conservation area. Ojha stated, 98 foreign tourists entered the conservation area on Saturday, and those who reached Jagat by night are staying there safely. We are coordinating efforts for rescue by helicopter.
In addition to those in Jagat, 17 tourists are waiting for rescue in Lokpa, Chumanubri-6, while 40 others are located in Chekampar in the Chum Valley area. Porters and guides accompanying the foreign visitors are also stuck in the region. Krishna Prasad Acharya, president of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki, said that they are coordinating with local authorities and security agencies to ensure the safety and rescue of all individuals.
Acharya said, We are collecting data on how many tourists are in the Manaslu Conservation Area and making efforts to ensure their rescue and safe movement. Natural disasters occurring during the peak tourist season have impacted the tourism sector.
