Scenes of utter nightmare unfolded in northern Gorkha as a sudden river blockage burst into a furious torrent, carving away entire villages, critical transit routes, and local livelihoods in seconds. Flash floods in Nepal's Manaslu trekking region on Sunday swept away more than 40 houses, six bridges, and vital hydropower infrastructure, leaving more than 150 tourists stranded amid chaos.
Early SMS warnings helped several residents flee to higher ground. The Army rescued over 49 people. At least 10 people were reported missing.
The disaster struck barely 45 days after catastrophic floods along the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river that killed more than 1,450 people.
Preliminary reports suggest a landslide blocked a nearby tributary, triggering a deadly buildup of water and mud before bursting through. Authorities cautioned that the official cause remains under investigation.
The flood destroyed vital infrastructure, including a primary school, while damaging numerous other structures. At least six bridges were swept away, cutting off remote settlements across the valley.
Authorities issued evacuation alerts across Dhading, Tanahun, Chitwan, and East and West Nawalparasi, warning residents along the Trishuli and Narayani rivers to stay away from riverbanks.
The flood also disrupted the popular Manaslu trekking circuit during Nepal's peak autumn tourist season, damaging trails and suspension bridges. More than 100 foreign tourists were stranded at Jagat, a key entry point to the trekking region, while 17 were struck at Lokpa and another 40 at Chhekampar in Chum Valley.
The fresh incident in Nepal has renewed concerns about sudden floods across the Himalayas, where retreating glaciers, unstable mountain slopes, and large quantities of loose sediment can combine to produce destructive flows.
