Budhigandaki flood cuts off villages, rescue efforts continue

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Oct. 12: A flash flood in the Budhigandaki River early Sunday morning swept away bridges, damaged riverside settlements and infrastructure, and cut off access to several villages in Gorkha district. 

The Nepali Army rescued 95 people from flood-affected areas in Chumnubri Rural Municipality as search and rescue operations continued.

The flood occurred at around 4:30 am after a landslide reportedly blocked a stream feeding the river system at Philim. The water suddenly broke through the obstruction, surging downstream with mud and debris and causing damage to settlements and infrastructure along the river.

According to the Nepali Army, rescue teams were mobilised by air and land to assess the damage and evacuate people from vulnerable areas. Six people stranded in a landslide-risk area in Jagat were airlifted to safety.

By 7:00 pm Sunday, 95 people had been rescued using four helicopters, including an MI-17, and ground-based rescue teams. Of those rescued, 17 were from Jagat, 22 from Yaru, 13 from Thulodhunga, three from Dobhan, two from Philim, 17 from Nyakphedi, 12 from Payu, three from Namrung, three from Deng and three from Dhauli.

The Army urged residents living along the riverbanks and in surrounding areas to move to safer locations at higher elevations. Search and rescue operations were continuing in coordination with other security agencies and concerned authorities.

Several bridges destroyed

The flash flood swept away a cantilever bridge at Sardibhir in Lokpa, Chumnubri Rural Municipality, cutting off access to the lower Chum area.

Laxmi Gurung, Vice-chairperson of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, said the bridge was swept away early Sunday, disrupting movement to and from several villages in wards 6 and 7.