Budhi Gandaki flash flood underscores Nepal’s growing disaster preparedness challenge

With the flood’s point of origin still under investigation, experts have called for a dedicated monitoring center, cross-border cooperation and improved early warning systems to reduce future losses

Damage caused by the flood that came into the Budhi Gandaki River on Sunday morning from the direction of the Ungilung Stream located in Chumanubri Rural Municipality-6 of northern Gorkha. Photo courtesy: RSS

KATHMANDU: Before the pain of the destruction brought by the flash flood in Rasuwa could subside, a flood carrying mud and debris in the Budhi Gandaki River on Sunday morning highlighted a serious warning regarding the increasing disaster risk in the Himalayan and mid-hill regions.

According to the government’s preliminary study, a landslide occurred in the upper region of Chumanubri Rural Municipality in Gorkha on the morning of Sunday, October 11, causing a flood in the Budhi Gandaki. Initially, the flow from the Ungilung Stream in Chumanubri-6 blocked the Syar Stream. It is estimated that a sudden massive flood occurred after the obstruction in the dammed stream burst.

“The latest satellite image has been received; it shows cloud cover, and looking at this, it appears to have started right from the glacier area, with debris, soil, and mud progressively accumulating downstream,” he says. They are awaiting additional satellite images to ascertain the point of origin. “Preparations for a field observation are also underway to reach a conclusion,” he says. Only scattered rainfall was recorded in that area over the past 24 hours. According to him, although the Army went to observe the incident site, it has not yet reached the point of origin.

Damage caused by the flood in the Budhi Gandaki River on Sunday morning. Photo courtesy: RSS

Earlier on August 26, after rocks and a glacier fell from the northern slope of Langtang Lirung, the resulting flash flood caused damage and losses exceeding Rs 408.28 billion in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli River corridors. According to details from the Nepal Police as of 12:00 PM on October 11, at least 1,457 people died and 4,720 people were missing.

Senior Advocate Raju Prasad Chapagai states that recurring major disasters one after another have posed a national challenge. He mentioned that existing legal provisions and institutional structures need to be revised to make preparedness and response effective. “Before the wound of one disaster heals, another arrives; now all three tiers of government and stakeholders must not limit themselves to disaster management alone but focus on building a disaster-resilient nation,” he says.