Budhi Gandaki Flood in Nepal: A Travel Update from Life Himalaya Treks

The Budhi Gandaki flood in Nepal affected parts of the Manaslu and Tsum Valley trekking region on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The sudden flood damaged homes, bridges, trails and other infrastructure along the river corridor in Gorkha district.

The flood has also affected trekkers and local tourism businesses. Some visitors were staying in villages along the route when the flood arrived. Many were moved to safer places, while others waited for assistance because bridges and sections of the trail had been damaged.

If you are planning the Manaslu Circuit Trek, the Tsum Valley Trek or travel through Soti Khola and Machha Khola, please check the latest local information before leaving. Our team at Life Himalaya Treks can help you review the current route situation before your departure. Conditions can change quickly in a mountain area, especially after a flood.

As of 12 October 2026, the full extent of the damage and the condition of the affected trekking routes are still being assessed, so trekkers should confirm the latest local information before travelling.

This guide explains what happened, which places were affected, what is known about the trekking routes and how visitors should plan their next steps.

Budhi Gandaki Flood in Nepal

What happened in the Budhi Gandaki valley?

For anyone searching for a Manaslu Circuit Trek after flood update, the first priority is safety rather than a quick reopening.

The Budhi Gandaki Flood in Nepal began before dawn on 11 October. Early reports placed the first major rise in water levels at around 4:00 to 4:35 in the morning. A large amount of muddy water, loose rock and other debris then moved down the Budhi Gandaki river system.

Authorities and local residents believe that a landslide temporarily blocked a river or tributary in the upper part of Chumnubri Rural Municipality. Water may have collected behind the blockage before the natural barrier failed. The released water then carried mud, stones and large pieces of debris downstream.

Officials are still checking the exact source. Reports mention areas near Chumchet, Lokpa, Chumling and Philim, as well as tributaries known locally by names such as Ungilung, Syar and Wingling Khola. These names may refer to nearby parts of the same drainage system, but a final technical assessment is still needed.

There was no clear report of heavy rain in the upper catchment at the time. This is one reason why the sudden rise in water surprised many people living along the river. The river level also changed very quickly at Arughat, reaching 8.43 metres at around 9:45 am, according to an early report.

Which areas were affected?

Floodwater travelled through several settlements in Chumnubri and Dharche rural municipalities in Gorkha district. The most frequently mentioned places include Jagat, Salleri, Bagar, Paiyu, Ghattikhola, Sirdibas, Machha Khola, Dobhan and Soti.

The lower part of the trekking approach was also affected. Warnings were issued for settlements farther downstream, including areas around Arughat. Residents were advised to move away from the river and remain in safer locations while water levels continued to change.

The Budhi Gandaki Flood in Nepal caused the following preliminary damage:

Area or facility	Reported situation
Jagat, Bagar and Salleri	Houses and local structures damaged or swept away
Machha Khola	Houses and lower settlements affected; some homes were at risk
Soti and Arughat	Motorable bridges and other crossings damaged
Nyakchet, Sirdibas and Philim	Suspension bridges and route connections affected
Yaru Bagar–Jagat trail	Trail section heavily damaged or washed away
Hydropower project near Salleri	Construction camp and equipment damaged or swept away

Officials have not confirmed the final number of damaged houses. The Kathmandu Post reported that dozens of houses were swept away or damaged in several locations. Other early reports gave smaller numbers for individual settlements. This difference is normal during the first stage of a disaster, when teams have not yet reached every area.

Were people injured or killed?

The reports reviewed so far found no confirmed deaths or injuries. However, at least five people were reported missing or unaccounted for from the Chumchet area. They were believed to have been staying in a shed near the river when the flood arrived.

There were also early reports that four or five herders travelling between Sirdibas and Chumling could not be contacted. It was not immediately clear whether they were included in the official missing-person count.

Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and local authorities sent rescue teams into the affected areas. Four Nepal Army helicopters were used for search, rescue and evacuation. Reports gave different rescue totals because the operation was still continuing and the figures covered different groups and time periods.

Some early reports said 47 people had been moved to safety by helicopter, while later reports gave higher rescue totals. The Kathmandu Post reported on 12 October that the Nepal Army had rescued 95 people, including nine foreign visitors. Rescue figures may change as authorities continue their work, so readers should check the latest official updates.

What happened to trekkers in the Manaslu region?

The Budhi Gandaki river valley is the main approach corridor for both the Manaslu Circuit Trek and the Tsum Valley Trek. Trekkers follow the river for several days and cross bridges to reach villages, lodges and trail junctions.

This route layout means that one damaged bridge can stop movement between several villages. A trail may appear clear in one place but still be impossible to use if a crossing farther ahead has been washed away.

Onlinekhabar reported that more than 100 foreign tourists were staying around Jagat, which is an important entry point for the Manaslu Conservation Area. The report also mentioned 17 tourists in Lokpa and 40 tourists in Chhekampar in the Tsum Valley area. These visitors were reported to be in safe locations, but travel along the route had been halted.

The Nepal Army also rescued people from areas at risk, including a foreign national and an infant. Local authorities, trekking agencies and the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal were working to collect information about trekkers, guides and porters and to arrange safe movement.

At the time of writing, there was no reliable confirmation that the complete Manaslu Circuit or Tsum Valley route had reopened. Anyone planning to trek in the area should confirm the latest route conditions with local authorities and a trekking agency before departure.

Is the Manaslu Circuit Trek safe after the flood?

Our advice at Life Himalaya Treks is to wait before starting the affected route. The Manaslu Circuit Trek should not return to normal until local authorities inspect the trails and bridges affected by the Budhi Gandaki Flood in Nepal and provide updated information.

Travellers planning a Manaslu Circuit Trek after flood should consider these risks:

Damaged or missing suspension and motorable bridges
Unstable riverbanks and loose ground near the water
Trails covered by mud, rocks or flood debris
Sudden changes in river levels
Limited shelter and communication in remote villages
Delays in rescue or transport because roads and crossings are damaged
The possibility of further landslides or another sudden release of water

A bridge that looks usable may still have damage to its foundations. A trail that has dried on the surface may still be unstable underneath. Trekkers should never cross a damaged bridge or attempt an unverified river crossing simply because other people appear to be doing so.

If you are already on the route, follow instructions from your guide, lodge owners, local police and district authorities. Stay away from the riverbank and do not travel alone between villages. Your trekking agency should know where you are and should be able to advise you about evacuation or a safe change of route.

What should future trekkers do?

If your trek is planned for the next few days, please contact your trekking agency before travelling to Gorkha. If you are travelling with Life Himalaya Treks, contact our team so we can check the latest local information with our guides and partners in the region. Ask for a current update based on information from the local administration, the Manaslu Conservation Area Project and guides who are physically in the region.

Do not rely only on an old social media post or a blog article written on the first day of the flood. A Tsum Valley Trek update should come from local officials, guides or a current agency briefing. Early reports are useful, but they can contain different figures and place names while rescue teams are still gathering information.

Before leaving Kathmandu, we recommend confirming these points for your Manaslu Circuit Trek after flood plan:

Whether the road to your starting point is open.
Whether the main bridges between Soti Khola, Machha Khola, Jagat and Philim are usable.
Whether permits and conservation-area entry procedures are operating normally.
Whether lodges along your planned route are open and able to receive visitors.
Whether your travel insurance covers route changes, evacuation and delays caused by natural disasters.
Whether your guide has a practical alternative if the planned route cannot be completed.

It is also sensible to allow extra days in your itinerary. Mountain travel already depends on weather, road conditions and local transport. After a flood, repairs and route checks may take time.

What should trekkers already in the region do?

If you are already near the Budhi Gandaki river, take local warnings seriously. Move to higher ground if officials or residents advise evacuation. Keep away from riverbanks, bridges and recently damaged slopes.

Keep your phone, passport, money, water and essential medicines with you. Tell your guide, trekking agency or lodge owner where you are. If communication is available, contact your family or emergency contact and explain that you are safe or tell them where you are waiting. Please also keep us informed so our team can coordinate support with your guide and local contacts.

Do not try to save time by using a route that local people have closed. Do not cross a river on foot, horseback or by temporary route unless local authorities and an experienced guide confirm that it is safe.

The safest plan may be to remain in a secure village until a rescue team or local authority gives clear instructions. In some cases, returning by the route you came may be safer than continuing deeper into the mountains.

Does the flood affect all of Nepal?

No. The reported damage is concentrated along the Budhi Gandaki river corridor in Gorkha and nearby downstream areas. It does not mean that every popular trekking region in Nepal is unsafe.

However, all mountain routes should be checked separately. The Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Kanchenjunga and other trekking routes may have different conditions. A route outside Gorkha may be open, but travellers should still check current weather, road and trail information before departure.

If you decide to change your holiday plans, speak with Life Himalaya Treks or another trusted trekking agency about another route only after checking its current conditions. Ask for a Tsum Valley Trek update before you make a new booking. Do not assume that an alternative trek is automatically safe simply because it was not mentioned in reports about the Budhi Gandaki Flood in Nepal.

Why are the early reports different?

The Budhi Gandaki Flood in Nepal happened in a remote mountain region where roads, bridges and communication systems were damaged. Rescue teams could not immediately reach every settlement, and some areas had limited phone coverage.

For this reason, early reports gave different numbers for missing people, houses, bridges and rescued tourists. Some reports counted only helicopter rescues. Others included people moved to safe places by ground teams. Some counted one settlement, while others described the wider river corridor.

Officials will update the figures after they complete field inspections. Readers should treat the latest information from Nepal’s disaster authorities and local administration as more reliable than an early estimate.

Final advice for visitors

The Budhi Gandaki Flood in Nepal has created a serious but localised emergency in the Manaslu and Tsum Valley area. The most important concern is the safety of residents, guides, porters and trekkers who were in the valley when the flood arrived.

For our guests and other visitors, the best decision is to delay travel through the affected corridor until the trail, bridge and lodge situation is confirmed. If your trip with Life Himalaya Treks is already booked, contact us about postponement or a route change. We will help you review the available options based on the latest local conditions. A short delay is better than entering an area where a bridge or trail may no longer be safe.

Local authorities will need time to inspect the Manaslu region, repair infrastructure and support affected communities. When trekking resumes, visitors planning a Manaslu Circuit Trek after flood should expect conditions to differ from the usual route.

Follow local instructions, travel with a qualified guide and check every section of the route rather than assuming that the whole trail is open. Our team will continue to share practical updates as reliable information becomes available.