Nine Russian tourists evacuated from flood-hit area in Nepal

A group stranded near Manaslu was taken out by helicopter. Russia’s embassy thanked the Nepalese authorities.

The travellers were cut off in Jagat village in Gorkha district after flooding on the Budhi Gandaki River on October 11. Floodwater damaged roads and trails. The tourists moved higher into the mountains for safety while arrangements for evacuation were being made.

Russia’s embassy in Kathmandu asked local authorities to help the group. On October 13, the mission thanked Nepal’s central authorities and the Gorkha district administration for their actions.

Group leader Maria Yerokhina told TASS that the tourists were evacuated by a military helicopter to Arughat, which has road links to Kathmandu and Pokhara. She said they intended to travel to Pokhara and continue their trip on another route in the Annapurna region.

The evacuation changes the group’s previously reported status: they were still stranded on October 12. Their intention to continue travelling is their own plan, rather than confirmation that damaged Manaslu-area trails have reopened.