Debris-filled Budhi Gandaki River surges through settlements; rescue teams deployed as authorities warn residents to move to higher ground
Kathmandu: A debris-laden flash flood in Nepal’s Budhi Gandaki River swept away more than 35 houses and several bridges in Gorkha district on Sunday, prompting authorities to launch rescue operations and evacuate residents from vulnerable riverside settlements.
No casualties had been reported in preliminary assessments, although officials said the full extent of the damage remained unclear.
The flood struck settlements in Salleri, Paiyuka and Jagat, according to local officials cited by Nepali media. It also washed away a suspension bridge connecting communities in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3.
Gorkha Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra said preliminary information suggested that a landslide had occurred above Siuribas. However, the cause of the sudden surge remained uncertain.
Residents suspected that a stream feeding the Budhi Gandaki may have been blocked, causing water to accumulate before rushing downstream. Some residents reported hearing loud roaring sounds from streams from around 4 am, forcing people and tourists to flee.
Home Minister Sudan Gurung said the flood had also destroyed a bridge linking Nyakchet and Philim Bazaar. Helicopters were deployed for rescue, evacuation and relief operations as the river continued to rise.
Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and local authorities were mobilised to assist affected communities. Officials used loudspeakers to warn people along the river to move to safer locations.
Residents said the flood arrived so suddenly that many had no time to retrieve their belongings. Authorities were assessing the damage and monitoring the situation.
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