Bangladeshi singer Tasrif Khan has been stranded in Nepal after floods and landslides damaged several sections of the road connecting Birethanti and Ghandruk, disrupting his planned return home.
Tasrif travelled to Nepal on 20 August for a short holiday after a busy period of work.
He is currently staying in the tourist village of Ghandruk in Nepal’s Gandaki Province with his companions.
Tasrif said they have been stranded in Ghandruk for two days but are safe.
“We have been stuck in Ghandruk village for two days. Everyone is safe, but we do not know when we will be able to leave,” he said.
Ghandruk is a popular tourist destination in Kaski district, located at an altitude of around 2,000 metres in the Annapurna region.
Tasrif said they have not witnessed major loss of life or destruction in the area where they are staying.
However, flooding in the Modi Khola and subsequent landslides have destroyed several sections of the Birethanti-Ghandruk road, while some bridges have also been damaged.
Authorities have restricted travel along dangerous routes, leaving tourists in the area uncertain about their return journeys.
Tasrif said they had arrived in Ghandruk on Tuesday and were scheduled to leave the following day, with plans to return to Bangladesh on Thursday.
However, they were delayed before leaving, and their guide advised them not to travel because of the risks.
“We later learned that several parts of the route we would have taken had collapsed. If we had left on time, we might have been caught in the disaster. Being late may have saved us,” he said.
Their guide has gone to explore alternative routes and speak with the local authorities.
Until he returns, the group plans to wait and assess the situation.
Tasrif said they may have to remain in Ghandruk for another two or three days.
He also expressed concern over reports of people missing in different parts of Nepal and said local residents had told them that more than a hundred tourists were stranded in the mountainous area.
The singer is also facing difficulties with cash and transportation.
He said he has only a limited amount of Nepalese currency and around US$100 in cash, while card and digital payment facilities are scarce in the area.
He has also been unable to secure a new ticket to return to Bangladesh.
If the regular road route remains inaccessible, the group may have to trek for eight to 10 hours along the river.
However, Tasrif said he does not want to take such a risk amid the continuing threat of flash floods and landslides.
Tasrif had travelled to Nepal for a break after a busy schedule of music and stage performances.
His romantic original song Brishti was recently released, while he had also planned to shoot the music video for his upcoming rock song Jiboner Chaka after returning home.
“I cannot think about anything else now. I just want to return home safely. Please pray that we can return to our loved ones in good health,” he said.
