Flash floods wipe out bridges and strand more than 100 foreign trekkers in central Nepal as five villagers go missing

From the Newshound archive · first published 12 October 2026.

Nepal's army is racing to evacuate residents and trekkers after landslide-triggered flash floods swept through the Budhi Gandaki river valley on Sunday, destroying five bridges, dozens of homes and three hydropower plant construction sites. A landslide that dammed the river near Chumchure village triggered catastrophic downstream flooding; in the aftermath, 96 people were brought to safety, among them nine foreign nationals. Five villagers remain out of contact after black muddy sludge swept away homes, though no fatalities have yet been reported. October is peak trekking season, leaving more than 100 foreign hikers trapped after trails and bridges were washed away.

Officials said trekkers wishing to continue their hike safely can do so, but those wanting to return need rescuing.

The flooded river flows into the Trishuli, near the site of an August glacier collapse that killed 1,457 people.

An early warning system gave most local residents enough time to move to higher ground before the worst of the flood struck.