Devastating Flash Floods Hit Nepal Again; Homes and Bridges Swept Away

Flash floods in the Budhigandaki River, located in north-central Nepal, have swept away numerous homes, bridges, and structures. Following the onset of the floods in Gorkha district on Sunday (October 11), residents of riverside villages were evacuated to safety. The country's disaster management authority has issued an alert to address the situation.

According to reports from news agencies Reuters and AP, the powerful floodwaters damaged several homes and critical infrastructure in the mountainous region. However, there have been no immediate reports of casualties.
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has directed people in vulnerable areas to move to safe shelters immediately. Residents living near the river have also been advised to remain on high alert through late Sunday night.

Videos circulating on social media show homes and various structures being swept away by the rushing waters of the river in the mountainous terrain. Transport links to several villages have also been disrupted.
The impact of the flood was particularly felt in Arughat, a key area for road connectivity between Kathmandu and other parts of the country. Residents there moved to safer locations after receiving official warnings.
Meanwhile, local media in Nepal reported that the Arughat Bridge, which connects Gorkha and Dhading districts, was also swept away by the floodwaters, further crippling the transport network in the affected area.

What Caused the Flash Flood?
Preliminary assessments suggest that a landslide in the Chumnubri area of ​​Gorkha district obstructed the flow of a river tributary. The sudden release of the accumulated water likely triggered the flash flood in the Budhigandaki River.
However, relevant officials are monitoring the situation to confirm the exact cause of the flood. Residents living downstream have also been advised to remain vigilant due to fluctuating water levels.

Earlier, in August, severe floods in the mountainous region along the Nepal-China border claimed the lives of over 1,400 people. Thousands more went missing during that disaster. Before it could recover from the damage caused by that earlier disaster, the Himalayan nation is once again facing floods.
According to the Government of Nepal's estimates, approximately $4.77 billion may be required to reconstruct the infrastructure damaged by the August floods. That disaster affected around 33,000 people and resulted in damage to or the destruction of approximately 7,500 homes.