Residents living along the Budhi Gandaki river in north central Nepal were forced to evacuate on Sunday due to flash flooding that caused significant damage to homes and other structures in the region. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority coordinated the evacuation of villagers and advised others to relocate to safer areas, maintaining a state of alertness until late Sunday. Fortunately, no casualties were reported immediately.
The cause of the flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki river, a crucial waterway merging into the Trishuli river near the capital Kathmandu, is currently under investigation by the disaster management agency. Videos circulating on social media depicted houses and sheds being swept away by the surging river amid towering mountains, though the full extent of impact on the small villages in the mountainous region remains unclear. The government’s warning led to evacuations in Arughat, a town situated along the highway linking Kathmandu to other regions.
Nepal continues to recover from a catastrophic flood in August along the Nepal-China border, which resulted in over 1,400 fatalities and thousands still missing. The office of Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah recently announced the conclusion of search and rescue missions for additional victims. Efforts will now focus on recovery operations, including the restoration of infrastructure such as roads and bridges severed by the floods, especially in remote areas hindering aid distribution.
The government projects that the reconstruction process will require $4.77 billion, with nearly 33,000 individuals affected and approximately 7,500 homes damaged or destroyed as a result of the natural disaster.