Residents living along the Budhi Gandaki river in northern Nepal were forced to evacuate due to flash floods that caused significant damage to homes and structures in the region. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority facilitated the evacuation of villagers and advised others to relocate to safer areas while remaining vigilant until late Sunday. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The authorities are investigating the cause of the flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki river, a critical waterway that converges with the Trishuli river near the capital city of Kathmandu. Social media footage depicted houses and sheds being swept away by the surging river amidst towering mountains, with the extent of impact on the small mountain villages still unclear. The government’s alert led to the evacuation of Arughat, a town located along the river and a key link on the Kathmandu highway.
Nepal continues to recover from a devastating flood in August along the Nepal-China border, which resulted in over 1,400 fatalities and numerous individuals still missing. Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s office announced the conclusion of search and rescue operations for additional victims, shifting focus towards recovery efforts such as restoring infrastructure like roads and bridges severed by the floods, particularly in remote regions hindering aid distribution.
The government anticipates that the rebuilding process will require approximately $4.77 billion, with nearly 33,000 individuals affected and around 7,500 homes either damaged or destroyed in the aftermath of the natural disaster.
