Kaski. Tourists visiting the tourist village Ghandruk have been left stranded after the flooded Modi River swept away the paved road.

KASKI: Vehicular movement along the Nayapul-Birethanti-Ghandruk road section has come to a grinding halt after the Modi River swept away the road near Syauli Bazaar, the border of Annapurna rural municipality-8 and 10.

The Modi River at Annapurna Rural Municipality-11 was swept away by the swollen Modi River, cutting off connectivity to Ghandruk, a rural tourist hub.

Tourists visiting Ghandruk have been left stranded due to the closure of the road. Although there is no problem in trekking, the tourists who went to Ghandruk in vehicles have stopped at Ghandruk.

Krishna Gurung, treasurer of Ghandruk Tourism Entrepreneurs Committee, said that around 300 tourists who had reached Ghandruk for a three-day holiday were now stranded after the road was washed away.

“Vehicular movement has not been allowed now as the river has washed away the road. Most of the tourists have come with their own vehicles and are now waiting for the opening of the road. We are looking for alternative roads for small vehicles,” Gurung said.

According to the rural municipality, the road is being repaired to facilitate tourists travelling on motorcycles and scooters from Ghandruk-Khulibang-Mohariya-Tamu to Birethanti.

Bishnu Bahadur KC, chairman of the rural municipality, said that the local administration and technical team have reached Syaulibazaar to resume the road after the tourists visiting Ghandruk and the ABC trekking route faced problems.

“We are in discussion whether to repair an alternative road to commute the tourists who are in trouble. “We are holding discussions with the district administration to find ways to operate vehicular movement even if the road is washed away as the rainfall has decreased and the river level has also decreased,” said KC.

Ghandruk village in Annapurna Rural Municipality-11 is also the entrance to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) and the Ghorepani-Pun Hill trekking route.