Residents living along the Budhi Gandaki river in north central Nepal were forced to evacuate on Sunday due to flash flooding that caused destruction to homes and structures in the vicinity. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority conducted the evacuation of villagers and advised others to relocate to safer areas, remaining on high alert until late Sunday. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The cause of the flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki river, which converges with the Trishuli river and serves as a crucial waterway near Kathmandu, is currently under investigation by the disaster management agency. Videos circulating on social media depicted houses and sheds being carried away by the surging river amidst towering mountains. The extent of the impact on the small villages in the mountainous region remains unclear. Social media posts indicated that the government’s warning led to an evacuation in Arughat, a town situated along the river on the highway linking Kathmandu to other parts of the country.
Nepal continues to recover from a catastrophic flood in August along the Nepal-China border, which resulted in over 1,400 fatalities and left thousands missing. Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s office announced the conclusion of the search and rescue operations for additional victims on Monday. Efforts will now shift towards recovery, focusing on restoring roads and bridges severed by floods, particularly in remote areas that have hindered aid distribution.
The government anticipates that the reconstruction process will amount to $4.77 billion. Approximately 33,000 individuals have been affected, with around 7,500 homes sustaining damage or being destroyed in the aftermath of the disaster.