Flash Floods in Nepal's Gorkha District Leave Five Missing,...
Severe flash floods triggered by a landslide-dam breach along the Budhi Gandaki River swept through Nepal's Gorkha district, leaving five people...
By GT24x7 Correspondents··GlobalToday24x7
Landslide-Dam Breach Triggers Violent Flash Floods Along Budhi Gandaki River
KATHMANDU / GORKHA — Powerful flash floods caused by a landslide-induced river blockage swept through the mountainous Gorkha district of north-central Nepal on Sunday, leaving at least five people missing and causing widespread infrastructure destruction. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), a massive landslide occurred between Lokpa and Chhumling in Chumnubri Rural Municipality, temporarily damming the Budhi Gandaki River. The subsequent outburst of the natural barrier unleashed a torrent of water and mountain debris downstream.
The sudden flood wave inundated settlements across Chumnubri and Dharche rural municipalities, catching communities off guard during early morning hours. Preliminary damage assessments released by local administrative officials confirm that 45 residential houses were completely destroyed, while an additional 27 homes suffered partial structural damage. Furthermore, floodwaters swept away three vehicles, destroyed two telephone towers, and downed approximately 50 electricity poles, severing telecommunications and power supply across the remote Himalayan valley.
Over 700 Security Personnel Mobilized for Air Evacuations and Search Operations
In response to the natural disaster, Nepalese authorities mobilized a large-scale joint disaster relief operation comprising more than 700 security personnel. The deployment includes 171 personnel from the Nepali Army alongside teams from the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police. Four military and private rescue helicopters have been deployed to execute tactical airlifts, delivering emergency relief commodities—including tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses, and medical supplies—to isolated high-altitude settlements.
Rescue teams have successfully evacuated over 80 stranded individuals, including nine foreign tourists who were trekking along the popular Manaslu Circuit trail when footpaths and suspension bridges were washed away. Ground personnel continue to search along the riverbanks for the five missing individuals, identified tentatively as local herders and travelers who were out of contact near the Chumling passage when the surge occurred.
Severe Damage to Hydropower Facilities and Critical Transport Infrastructure
The surge inflicted severe structural damage on regional transportation links and vital power infrastructure. At least four major bridges were damaged or completely washed away, including an iron-concrete motorable bridge at Soti connecting Aarughat, a suspension bridge linking Nyakchet and Sirdibas, and the strategic Arughat bridge connecting Gorkha with neighboring Dhading district. The loss of these river crossings has cut off overland access to multiple remote mountain villages.
Additionally, three hydropower installations sustained extensive damage. The construction site of the 381-megawatt Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project was severely impacted, with floodwaters submerging its primary construction camp, heavy machinery, and engineering equipment. Geologists and technical specialists equipped with aerial drones have been dispatched to inspect the upper catchments and evaluate site stability for installing temporary Bailey bridges.
Downstream Alerts Issued Across Trishuli River Corridor and Mountain Eco-Systems
Disaster management officials have issued urgent flood warnings for downstream communities along the Trishuli River corridor, extending through Benighat, Mugling, Chitwan, and Nawalparasi. River levels continue to fluctuate unpredictably due to lingering debris and secondary mudslides upstream.
Environmental scientists from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) noted that the incident highlights extreme climate vulnerabilities inherent to fragile Himalayan river catchments. Coming shortly after monsoon deluges in late September, experts emphasized the need for real-time automat...