KATHMANDU — Flash floods have struck central Nepal again, sweeping away several houses and bridges after a landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha district, prompting authorities to urge residents living along the riverbanks to move to safer locations.
No casualties had been reported as of Sunday, according to Reuters.
The landslide occurred in Chumnubri village in Gorkha district, about 100 kilometres west of the capital, Kathmandu. The obstruction disrupted the river’s flow, triggering flooding downstream, officials said.
Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, a senior administrative official in Gorkha, said residents living along the river’s lower reaches had been advised to evacuate and remain in safe locations.
The flooding swept away around a dozen houses and two suspension bridges, while a workers’ camp at a hydropower project was also damaged.
Dharam Raj Upreti, head of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said the river level was rising, carrying large amounts of muddy water. A highway bridge connecting Gorkha district with neighbouring Dhading district was also washed away.
In a social media post, Prime Minister Balendra Shah said the army had rescued six people from the landslide-threatened area of Jagat. Upreti added that 18 other workers at the affected hydropower project had managed to reach safety.
Army and police rescue teams have reached the affected area, while helicopters are being used to monitor the situation.
The national disaster authority issued flood warnings for riverside communities in Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, eastern Nawalparasi and western Nawalparasi districts. Officials urged people in vulnerable areas to evacuate promptly and assist search-and-rescue operations where necessary.
The latest flooding comes after a devastating glacial-related disaster in August affected another tributary of the Trishuli River system. According to the report, the earlier disaster killed 1,457 people, while thousands remained missing.
Authorities are monitoring river levels and assessing the damage as emergency teams continue their response.
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