Flash floods have struck central Nepal, sweeping away dozens of houses, damaging critical infrastructure and leaving at least five people missing, authorities have confirmed.
The flooding occurred on Sunday in Gorkha district, where a powerful surge of water carrying mud and debris rushed through the mountainous region.
Videos circulating online showed a dark, debris-filled river flowing violently through the hills, highlighting the force of the flood.
Dharam Raj Uprety, head of Nepal’s national disaster agency, said the disaster was triggered by a landslide that temporarily blocked a river before the accumulated water suddenly broke through.
“What we know is that a dry landslide had blocked the river and then it burst to cause the flood,” Uprety said.
The disaster swept away approximately 45 houses and damaged three hydropower projects and four bridges, raising concerns about the impact on communities and essential services in the affected areas.
At Least 82 People Rescued as Search Continues
Rescue teams have been working to locate missing residents and evacuate people from areas threatened by rising water levels.
According to the national disaster agency, at least 82 people, including nine foreign nationals, have been rescued from the affected locations.
However, five people remain unaccounted for, with authorities continuing efforts to establish their whereabouts.
“Five people are unaccounted for,” Uprety said.
Four helicopters have been deployed to support rescue operations and evacuate people from dangerous areas as water levels in the Budhi Gandaki River continue to rise.
Before the flooding, authorities issued warnings urging residents living near the river to move to safer locations to reduce the risk of further casualties.
Residents Recall Terrifying Flood Experience
The latest disaster has renewed fears among residents still struggling to recover from previous flooding in the Himalayan country.
Laxmi Gurung, a local official in Chumnubri rural municipality, described the latest incident as frightening, saying its appearance reminded residents of an earlier devastating flood.
“The flood looked similar… It was very scary, and it still feels like a nightmare for us,” Gurung said.
She added that her community had suffered significant losses, with homes destroyed and electricity supplies disrupted.
“Our house is gone, we have no electricity… but there have been no casualties,” she said.
Her account highlights the challenges facing residents whose homes and access to essential services have been affected by repeated natural disasters.
Nepal Still Recovering From Previous Disasters
The latest flash floods come as Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of earlier devastating flooding.
A previous disaster, triggered by a mountain glacial collapse on August 26, reportedly killed more than 1,400 people and left over 5,000 missing.
Heavy rainfall in late September also caused floods and landslides that killed at least 21 people, according to the national disaster agency.
The repeated disasters have placed additional pressure on communities and emergency responders, with authorities continuing rescue operations and monitoring river levels in vulnerable areas.
As the search for the five missing people continues, officials are urging residents in threatened locations to heed evacuation warnings and move away from dangerous riverbanks.
Source: AFP
