Nepal urges villagers to evacuate after landslide triggers flood

KATHMANDU: Nepalese authorities have advised residents living near a central river to evacuate to safer locations following a massive flood triggered by a landslide, though no fatalities have been reported so far. The disaster occurred in Chumnubri village, situated in Gorkha district, roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Kathmandu.

The landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River, causing downstream flooding, according to authorities. The Budhi Gandaki is a tributary of the Trishuli River, with another tributary experiencing a glacier collapse that led to a catastrophic flood in August, which claimed 1,457 lives and left thousands unaccounted for. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority warned people residing along the riverbanks in Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, East Nawalparasi, and West Nawalparasi districts to evacuate and ensure their safety.

The authorities have reported that several houses, two suspension bridges, and a hydroelectric project have been affected by the flood. National disaster officials have been actively alerting the populace and coordinating search and rescue operations, with the assistance of army and police rescue personnel who have arrived at the scene and are monitoring the situation via helicopter.