A flash flood in the Modi River on Sunday swept away two hotels, a bridge, and part of the road along the route to Ghandruk in Annapurna Rural Municipality-10, Kaski.
Following the road blockage, vehicles heading to or already in the popular tourist village of Ghadruk have been stranded.
According to Bharat Man Gurung, spokesperson for Annapurna Rural Municipality, the flood completely washed away hotels owned by local residents Dilip Gurung and Jagan Pun.
Following the destruction of their hotels, both families are currently taking shelter in neighbors’ homes.
The flood also eroded the road leading to Ghandruk, leaving vehicles carrying tourists stranded on both sides. Vehicles that had already reached Ghandruk have also been unable to return due to the blocked road.
The flood swept away the bridge over the Kimrung River, which connects Ghandruk and Chhomarong along the Annapurna Base Camp trekking trail.
According to local residents, a sudden flood in the Kimrung River flowed into the Modi River, causing it to swell rapidly.
"A landslide in the upper region may have blocked the river and triggered a flash flood. The flood in the Kimrung River also caused the Modi River to overflow," spokesperson Gurung said. "The flood washed away both the bridge and the road."
Kaski Chief District Officer Kuman Singh Gurung said that bulldozers have been deployed to reopen the blocked road. He added that there is currently no immediate risk of further flooding at the site, and that efforts are ongoing to restore one-way traffic within the next few hours.
"We have mobilized bulldozers to reopen the road to Ghandruk. If the weather remains favorable, we aim to resume traffic within a few hours," CDO Gurung said.
