Residents living alongside the Budhi Gandaki river in north central Nepal were forced to evacuate on Sunday due to sudden flooding that caused destruction to homes and other structures in the area. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority carried out the evacuation of villagers and advised others to relocate to safer areas, maintaining vigilance until late Sunday. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Efforts are underway by the disaster management agency to ascertain the cause of the flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki river, which converges into the Trishuli river and serves as a crucial waterway near the capital city of Kathmandu. Social media footage captured houses and sheds being swept away by the surging river amidst towering mountains, with the precise impact on the small villages in the mountainous region yet to be determined. Reports suggest that the government’s warning led to an evacuation in Arughat, a town situated along the river on the highway linking Kathmandu to other regions.
Nepal continues to recover from a catastrophic flood in August along the Nepal-China border in the mountainous region that claimed the lives of over 1,400 individuals and left thousands missing. The office of Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah recently announced the conclusion of search and rescue operations for additional victims. Focus has shifted towards recovery efforts, including the repair of roads and bridges severed by the floods, especially in remote areas where damaged infrastructure has hindered aid distribution.
The government has projected that the reconstruction endeavor will incur costs amounting to $4.77 billion. Approximately 33,000 people have been impacted, with around 7,500 homes suffering damage or destruction in the aftermath of the disaster.