Kathmandu: A sudden flood in Nepal’s Budhi Gandaki River swept away three bridges and more than 35 houses in Gorkha district on Sunday (October 11), forcing residents to flee. Authorities have warned of further danger along the river. The flood damaged settlements, disrupted road connections and affected a hydropower project under construction.
The incident has heightened fears among communities, which are still recovering from Nepal’s devastating August 26 flood that killed more than 1,450 people and left thousands missing. The disaster killed more than 1,450 people, while 5,285 people were listed as missing in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority’s September 26 update. The World Bank estimated direct damage to physical assets at $1.66 billion, with infrastructure accounting for 83% of the total. The Nepal government’s preliminary assessment put physical damage at around $1.81 billion. Earlier reporting noted: Flash flood sweeps away 40 houses, 6 bridges in Nepal; up to 10 missing A pre-dawn flash flood in Nepal’s Manaslu trekking region on Sunday swept away nearly 40 houses, six bridges and hydropower infrastructure. Up to 10 people are missing and more than 150 foreign tourists are stranded. Earlier reporting noted: The disaster struck barely 45 days after catastrophic floods along Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river killed more than 1,450 people and left 5,250 missing.
Local officials said houses were swept away in areas including Salleri, Bagar, Ghattikhola and Jagat. Four people are missing after livestock sheds were washed away near the Ungilung stream, according to local media reports. The latest disaster struck Chumnubri and Dharche rural municipalities in the mountainous Gorkha district. Several houses along the river were either washed away or flooded. A hydropower project under construction in the area also suffered damage. The loss of bridges has added to the difficulties faced by residents in remote mountain communities, where road and footbridge connections are essential for travel, supplies and access to emergency services. The latest flood struck around 4am along Budhi Gandaki, a tributary of Trishuli, in Chumnubri, approximately 100km west of Kathmandu. However, officials had yet to establish the exact cause. Five people, including two women and three men staying near Ungilung river, remained missing. Separately, four to five herders were also out of contact.
Earlier reporting noted: Authorities suspected a landslide had temporarily blocked a tributary, allowing water and debris to build up before the obstruction gave way. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed on Sunday, with emergency teams monitoring the affected settlements and helping people move to safer locations.
