Manaslu apples stranded in Gorkha warehouses
Summary
Floods and damaged bridges have stranded Manaslu apples in warehouses in northern Gorkha, leaving farmers unable to move their harvest to market. Traders say large parts of the crop are spoiling as transport, electricity and processing options remain disrupted.
Key Points
- Floods triggered by an avalanche on October 11 washed away bridges and roads in Chumnubri Rural Municipality, cutting off the main transport route in northern Gorkha.
- Apples harvested in the Manaslu region are stranded in warehouses because mules, roads and helicopter transport are not viable options.
- Trader Lakpa Dundup Lama said his farm produced around 100,000 kilograms of apples this year, but much of the fruit is already starting to spoil.
- Loss of electricity after another flood damaged a micro hydropower plant has also halted apple drying and processing on the farm.
