Flash flood sweeps away houses, bridges in Nepal's Gorkha

A flash flood in Nepal's Gorkha district on Sunday swept away over 35 houses and bridges, prompting authorities to advise residents to relocate to higher ground. The Budhi Gandaki River gave way in the Salleri, Paiyuka and Jagat areas, as well as the riverbed at Jagat. Ram Kumar Gurung, the ward chair of Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3, confirmed the destruction, as did Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, Gorkha's chief district officer. However, no fatalities had been reported at the time.

The cause of the sudden flood surge was unknown. Some residents speculated that the Syar stream, a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki, may have been obstructed, leading to the disaster. Chumnubri Rural Municipality Deputy Chair Laxmi Gurung likened the present flood to the 2001 Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa, which claimed 1,455 lives and left 5,285 people missing. The extent of the damage remained unclear.

The devastating flood impacted the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district on August 26, 2001. Home Minister Sudan Gurung reported that the flood also washed away the bridge connecting Nyakchet and Philim bazaar in Chumnubri-3. With the river's level still rising, rescue operations, relief distribution and evacuations were carried out by the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and local authorities. Early morning residents heard loud roaring sounds from the streams around 4am and promptly evacuated their homes.