GORKHA, Oct 12: The tourists who had reached the Chum Valley have been stranded following the flood in Budhigandaki River on Sunday. The swollen Budhigandaki River damaged bridges and trekking routes, thereby disrupting the mobility of tourists.
A local hotel entrepreneur Ganesh Karki informed RSS that the tourists were worrying over the restricted movement because the trekking routes were damaged by the flash flood. Some of them were airlifted to safety by the Nepali Army on Monday morning.
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According to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), there are more than 80 tourists stranded in Chum Valley. A hotelier at Chhekampar, Dorje Lama, said, "The foreign tourists are worried if their visa expires due to overstay triggered by disruption in movement."
Assistant chief district officer Netra Sharma reminded that the government had already decided that helicopters need not take permits if they need rescuing tourists. "In case of emergency, the companies sending them on trekking can take initiative. Otherwise, the government itself forwards works for rescue," Sharma said.
Those stranded in the flood-hit area are given priority at present.