Nepal floods: 10 missing as Budhi Gandaki River washes away 6 bridges in Gorkha

At least 10 people have been reported missing after flooding along the Budhi Gandaki River basin in Nepal’s Gorkha district early Sunday. The floodwaters swept away six bridges, damaged several settlements and forced residents to flee to safer areas. The flood struck the northern part of the district around 4 am, officials said. Authorities are monitoring the river as its water level continues to fluctuate, while security personnel have been mobilised for search, rescue and evacuation operations. Assistant chief district officer Netra Prasad Sharma told ANI that 10 people had been reported missing since the flooding began. “In addition, 10 people have been reported missing since the flood hit the northern part of the district earlier this morning. An alert is in place as the river’s water level has continued to rise and fall. We are constantly monitoring the flow,” Sharma added. Six bridges swept away, houses damagedThe flood swept away six bridges, including two motorable bridges and four suspension bridges, according to officials. Bridges at Arughat, Tripurasundari and Soti-Manbu were among those reported damaged or destroyed, Sharma said. A Bailey bridge connecting wards 1 and 3 of Dharche Rural Municipality was also swept away. Other affected crossings included footbridges linking Machhikhola with Karauja, Thadobharyang with Jagat, and Ghattekhola with Philim. Nearly 35 houses in Painyu and Bagar in Ward 3 of Chumnubri Rural Municipality were swept away. Settlements in Jagat, Salleri, Dovan and Ghattekhola were also damaged. Chumnubri Rural municipality deputy chair Laxmi Gurung said the flooding had caused extensive damage to the local market. “The Budhigandaki flood is reminiscent of the Bhotekoshi flood,” she said, according to Online Khabar. “It has washed away dozens of houses. It is not possible to say the exact extent of the damage right now.” Residents of riverside settlements, including Chumling and Lokpa, fled their homes after hearing loud roaring sounds from nearby streams around 4 am. Tourists staying at local hotels also left for safer areas, residents said, PTI reported. Nepal Army deploys teams for rescuePrime Minister Balen Shah said a Nepal Army contingent had been deployed by air and land to conduct search and rescue operations. Helicopters were also mobilised to support relief and evacuation efforts, while a joint rapid response team from Kathmandu was airlifted to the affected area. The Nepal Army later said six people had been evacuated to safer locations. The affected region is around 184 km from Kathmandu. Home minister Sudan Gurung said security personnel, including helicopter teams, had been deployed to assist with rescue and relief operations. He also warned that the river’s flow was continuing to rise and that muddy floodwaters had entered some houses in Ghattekhola. In a social media post, Gurung expressed concern over the destruction of the bridge connecting Nyakchet and Film Bazaar in Ward 3 of Chumnubri Rural Municipality. He urged residents of Sirdibas, Jagat, Salleri, Khorlabesi, Machhakhola, Soti, Arkhet and Arughat, particularly those living along the Budhi Gandaki riverbanks, to move to safer areas immediately. He also asked the people requiring emergency assistance to contact the ministry of home affairs on 1234. Authorities were also using loudspeakers to warn riverside residents and urge them to evacuate. This flooding in Nepal comes after the devastating Bhote Koshi River floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa district on August 26. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the floods in the Rasuwa and Trishuli river areas claimed 1,455 lives, while 5,285 people remained missing. Authorities in Gorkha are continuing to monitor the Budhi Gandaki’s water levels as rescue teams work in the affected areas and residents are urged to remain alert.