Budhi Gandaki Flash Flood: Manaslu & Tsum Valley Trek Alert

A flash flood surged down the Budhi Gandaki River before dawn today, sweeping away dozens of houses, markets and several bridges along the valley that carries the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley trekking routes. No casualties had been reported by mid-morning, but settlements and crossings on the trekking corridor were damaged, and tourists staying in riverside lodges had to flee. Authorities have not yet issued an official trekking advisory, so any departure through Gorkha should be treated as on hold until one is published.

Key points

• The flood began around 4 am in Chumnubri Rural Municipality, Ward 6, and travelled downstream past Jagat, Machha Khola and Soti towards Arughat. Flood forecasters said it would take about three hours to reach Arughat.
• Chumnubri's deputy chair, Laxmi Gurung, said 35 houses were washed away in Paiyu and Bagar villages, with heavy damage in Dobhan, Ghattekhola, Jagat and Salleri.
• Several bridges have been washed away, including the Dobhan Bailey bridge, the bridge to Kerauja and the motorable bridge between Soti and Manbu.
• No casualties had been reported at the time of writing. The damage assessment is still underway.
• Helicopters have been deployed for reconnaissance and rescue. The Home Ministry emergency line is 1234.
• Tourists were among those who fled the Lokpa and Chumling area when the water rose.

What happened?

Residents of Chumnubri Wards 6 and 7 said they heard a roar from around 4 am. Gorkha's Chief District Officer, Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, received word of a major flood at 4:35 am. Locals in Lokpa said the sound seemed to come and go, as if water was being held back and released.

Police were told at about 5:30 am that a landslide had blocked the river in the stretch between Lokpa and Chumling. Water started flowing through the blockage again at 6:15 am, and a large flood followed. Chumnubri's chief administrative officer later reported that the river had been blocked once more, with no flow visible for about 15 minutes.

The flood reached Soti Bazaar at about 7:30 am, taking out a bridge and temporary structures there.

Cause

The cause has not been officially confirmed. The disaster authority's preliminary view is that a landslide dammed the river and the dam then burst, and it noted no recorded rainfall in the upper catchment. Reports name the source differently: the Ungilung stream (Khabarhub), the Syar stream (OnlineKhabar), the Chumke Khola (OnlineKhabar), and a dry landslide near Chekampar. All are located in Ward 6 of Chumnubri, upstream of Jagat.

Damage Reported So Far

These figures are preliminary and come from local officials and news agencies. Counts will change as teams reach affected areas.

What this Means for Trekking

The flood ran straight down the corridor that every Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley trek uses.

• Lower valley (Arughat, Soti Khola, Machha Khola, Khorlabesi, Tatopani, Dobhan). This is the usual road and trail approach. The Soti–Manbu bridge, the Soti bridge, and the Dobhan Bailey bridge are all reported destroyed, and people here have been told to move to higher ground. Expect road and trail access to be disrupted, and trekking starts here to be unsafe until teams assess it.
• Jagat to Salleri and Sirdibas. Jagat is a standard stop and permit checkpoint on the circuit. Its market and the Salleri market are among the worst hit. Lodges here should be considered unavailable for now.
• Lokpa and Chumling. The landslide blockage was reported between these two villages. Lokpa is where the Tsum Valley route branches from the main trail, so Tsum Valley treks are directly affected.
• Beyond Philim (Deng, Namrung, Samagaun, Larkya La). Nothing in today's reports describes damage here, but access depends on the crossings near Philim and Nyakchet, which are reported damaged. We have no confirmed status for the upper circuit.

Context

This is the second flood on this valley in five weeks. On 6 September, a flood on the Therang Khola near Namrung swept away houses and a bridge, and the district office suspended the Manaslu Circuit and Larkya La. Trekking resumed within days with temporary wooden bridges, and the Nepal Tourism Board reportedly lifted its restriction on 11 September. Today's flood is a separate event and is much larger. It also follows the deadly 26 August Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa, whose official toll was reported at 1,457 on 10 October.

Authorities' Response

• Home Minister Sudan Gurung said helicopters from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, along with local administration, were mobilised for rescue, relief and relocation, and that he was heading to the area.
• Police told residents of Khorlabesi, Machha Khola, Soti, Arkhet and Arughat, and areas in Sirdibas and Dharche, to move to safer places. The Home Minister's appeal also named Jagat and Salleri.
• The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority warned of possible damage as far down as Sirdibas, Jagat, Yari, Tatopani, Machha Khola, Soti, Arkhet and Arughat. Police urged people to keep away from the river down to Trishuli Dobhan.
• The Flood Forecasting Division sent SMS alerts to riverbank residents.
• Ekantipur separately reports that the flood washed away the camp of an under-construction 341 MW hydropower project. We could not open that report in full and have not confirmed details or whether anyone was affected.

Advice for Clients

• Departures through Gorkha (Manaslu Circuit, Tsum Valley, Larkya La, Manaslu Base Camp): treat as on hold until the Gorkha District Administration Office, the Manaslu Conservation Area Project and the Nepal Tourism Board publish route status. We will contact every affected booking directly with rebooking and date-change options.
• Trekkers already on the trail: stay away from riverbanks and low ground, follow police and district instructions, and tell your guide or our office where you are. For emergencies, call the Home Ministry on 1234.
• Later departures: the river remains a risk while blocked or partly blocked sections can still release water. A reassessment of trail, bridge, and lodge conditions will be needed before we send groups back.
• Other regions: Everest, Annapurna and other routes are not mentioned in today's flood reports, but conditions change quickly after the August floods, so check with us before assuming anything.

What we do not know yet

• Final casualty and missing-person figures, and how many trekkers and guides were on the trail?
• Whether the river is still partly blocked upstream.
• Which trail sections and lodges between Jagat and Philim remain usable?
• Any official closure or reopening notice for the Manaslu Circuit or Tsum Valley.
• The exact cause and the point of the blockage.

Disclaimer: The official notice on trekking routes through Gorkha is yet to be issued. The information above is based on early reports and may change as authorities assess the damage. Stay tuned with us for updates, or contact us directly before booking or travelling.