Heavy downpours over the past two weeks have triggered landslides and flash floods across Nepal, with scores of foreign and Nepali trekkers stranded and missing.

A powerful landslide struck the Manaslu area, one of the popular trekking areas in Nepal, last week, leaving trekkers fearing for their lives.

Police said trekking guide Pustar Lama has been out of contact since October 6 from the Larke pass at Manaslu in Gorkha, a hill district 140 kilometres north-west of Kathmandu.

Lama was accompanied by a porter and four French nationals who were hiking along the Manaslu trek through Himalayan Treks, a trekking company.

Two of the French, however, passed Larke and went towards Manang, according to police.

Another porter who went with Lama has returned from Samagau.

"There was a report from the Samagau area that Lama lost contact. We tried to search and rescue him, but we could not," said Superintendent Kedar Khanal of the District Police Office, Gorkha.

Police said that despite receiving information that Lama has gone out of contact, they do not have the details of the incident.

Meanwhile, Deepak GC, a trekker from Surkhet who was trapped in a landslide at Lokpa Bhir located in Chumkhet, Chumnubri Rural Municipality within the Manaslu region, was rescued after four days.

Saroj Lama, ward chair of Chumnubri-6, said some trekkers were rescued by Nepali Army helicopters on Sunday.

In Duyukhola and Sardibhir of Lokpa, a landslide has covered nearly 800 metres of trekking trail with debris. Locals said they only got the information about GC being stuck in the same landslide on Saturday.

The injured person has been medevaced to Kathmandu Teaching Hospital, Lama said.

Similarly, eight people, including two foreigners who trekked along the Manaslu area, were rescued after they were stranded when the trail was blocked by a landslide in Chumnubri-3, Nyakfedi following incessant rains.

Israeli citizens Ori Araf, Yarin Bork, and six Nepalis were rescued by the helicopter of the Nepali Army, said DSP Lilaraj Lamichhane of District Police Office Gorkha. “Those who were trapped in the landslide were rescued on Thursday,” he said.