Homes and bridges swept away as fresh floods hit Nepal

A major river in Nepal, the Budhi Gandaki, has flooded, causing widespread destruction and leaving at least five people missing. Around 50 individuals have been rescued in the central Gorkha district, according to the army. The flood swept away around a dozen houses, several suspension bridges, and inflicted significant damage on a hydroelectric project. No casualties have been reported so far.

The flood occurred on Sunday, just as families were getting ready to celebrate the Dashain festival, a major event in the Nepali calendar. Children and entire communities were forced to flee their homes, leaving them uncertain about where they will find safe shelter and access to essential supplies.

The river's water levels at one location rose from two meters to nearly 8.5 meters within hours, according to officials. Binod Parajuli, a meteorologist, revealed that his hydrological station was destroyed, and the team is currently unable to gather data from that location.

The cause of the latest flood remains unclear. Some speculate that a landslide may have blocked the river or its tributary, causing the dammed water to burst out. Others suggest that an ice-avalanche from upstream may have been responsible. Save the Children is mobilizing an emergency team to assist those affected by the flood. The charity's director in Nepal, Tara Chettry, expressed concern over the scale of the damage, stating that many children may have lost their homes, schools, and communities.

The Budhi Gandaki is a tributary of the Trishuli river, with a glacier collapse upstream believed to have caused a similar disaster two months ago, resulting in over 1,400 deaths and thousands of people missing.