Nepal Flash Flood: 10 Missing as Houses and Bridges Are Swept Away in Gorkha
GORKHA, Nepal: At least 10 people are missing after a sudden flash flood swept away houses and bridges in Nepal’s Gorkha district on Sunday morning. Six people have been rescued, according to published reports. The flood in the Budhi Gandaki River also damaged infrastructure, including a hydropower project.
The sudden rise in water caused extensive damage in the affected areas. Preliminary reports said around 35 houses were swept away, while six bridges were destroyed.
Nepal Flash Flood Destroys Six Bridges
The flash flood swept away six bridges, including two motorable bridges and four suspension bridges, according to reports. The damage has raised concerns over connectivity and the safety of people living along the river.
Authorities have urged residents living near the Budhi Gandaki River to remain alert and move to higher ground or other safer locations if necessary.
Netra Prasad Sharma, an assistant chief district officer in Gorkha, said the district administration had advised people living along the river to stay vigilant and relocate to safer areas.
10 Missing, Six Rescued
Search and rescue efforts were underway following the sudden flooding. Reports available at the time of publication said 10 people were missing, while six others had been rescued alive.
Gorkha Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra said no deaths had been reported so far, according to media reports.
The number of missing people and the full extent of the damage may change as authorities continue their assessment and rescue operations.
Cause of Flash Flood Remains Unclear
The exact cause of the sudden flood has not yet been officially established.
Local residents reportedly suspect that a blockage in the Chhaya River, a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki, between Lokpa and Chumling in Chumnubri Rural Municipality Ward 6 may have contributed to the sudden rise in water levels. However, this explanation has not been independently confirmed.
According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, cited by the Press Trust of India (PTI), the flooding affected settlements along the river in areas including Saleri, Piyuka and Jagat. A suspension bridge connecting a ward was also reportedly swept away.
Preliminary reports indicated that around three dozen houses in Chumnubri Rural Municipality were washed away.
Authorities are continuing to assess the damage and search for those missing. Further official information is awaited on the cause of the flood and the extent of the destruction.
