Five people are missing after a flash flood swept away 65 houses and damaged four bridges along Nepal’s Budhi Gandaki River in the central part of the country on Sunday, according to reports by AP.
The flood struck Gorkha and Dhading districts after a landslide at Chumanubri Rural Municipality in Gorkha temporarily blocked the river, according to the Nepal Army. The river later breached the blockage, sending a sudden surge of water, mud, and debris through settlements along its banks.
Armed Police Force spokesperson Netra Bahadur Karki said all five missing people were reported from Gorkha district, adding that authorities were still collecting information about the extent of the damage.
The flood destroyed two motorable bridges and two suspension bridges, disrupting local connectivity.
The Nepal Army airlifted 36 people to safer locations following the disaster, while security forces continued search and rescue operations.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority evacuated residents from vulnerable areas and urged people living nearby to move to safer locations. Authorities also warned residents to remain vigilant as the situation developed.
Videos circulating on social media showed floodwaters rushing through steep mountain valleys, carrying away houses and other structures. The full extent of the damage and the number of affected settlements remained unclear.
The flooding also raised concerns in Arughat, a riverside town along a highway connecting Kathmandu with other parts of the country, where social media posts indicated that warnings had prompted evacuations.
The Budhi Gandaki River flows into the Trishuli River, an important waterway near Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.
The disaster comes as Nepal continues to recover from devastating floods in August along its mountainous border with China, which reportedly left more than 1,400 people dead and thousands missing.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s office subsequently announced the end of search and rescue operations for additional victims of the earlier disaster, with authorities shifting their focus to recovery and reconstruction. Damaged roads and bridges, particularly in remote areas, have hampered the delivery of relief supplies.
The government estimates that reconstruction following the earlier floods will cost $4.77 billion. Nearly 33,000 people were affected, while about 7,500 houses were damaged or destroyed.
