Nepal Landslide Threat: Viral Video Shows Huge Debris Flow Temporarily Blocking Chaulani River In Darchula

A massive landslide in Nepal’s Darchula district on September 4 triggered temporary fears of a flash flood after debris cascaded into the Chaulani River, partially obstructing its flow. The landslide occurred in the Bhattar area of Api Himal Rural Municipality, where a section of the steep mountain gave way, sending rocks, soil and debris into the river valley.

Dramatic videos showed the collapse of a large part of the mountainside, creating clouds of dust as material rushed towards the river. While the viral footage depicted a localized incident, it drew attention to the threat of similar landslides in the area. The river was indeed partially blocked, with reports indicating it was obstructed for around 30 minutes before gradually forcing its way through the accumulated debris.

Authorities warned residents along the riverbanks to remain vigilant and move to safer locations if necessary, deploying security personnel to monitor the situation. By Friday evening, the immediate threat appeared to have eased as the Chaulani river began flowing freely again. However, monitoring continued due to the possibility of further landslides in the mountainous region, especially given the vulnerability of Nepal’s steep terrain during and after the monsoon.

The latest incident is separate from a catastrophic disaster in late August, which was caused by a high-altitude rock-and-ice avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life.