Residents along the Budhi Gandaki River in north-central Nepal evacuated their homes on Sunday following a flash flood that destroyed infrastructure and swept away dozens of houses. The flood affected areas in the Gorkha district, including the Chumnubri and Dharchre rural municipalities, where officials reported at least five people missing.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) attributed the flood to a landslide that blocked a tributary or the main river near the village of Chumchure, creating a natural dam. This dam subsequently breached, causing a sudden surge of water downstream. While some officials have classified this as a landslide-induced flood, others noted that the exact mechanism remains under investigation. The flood struck early Sunday morning, leading to widespread damage.

Videos shared on social media showed houses, bridges, and other structures being swept away by debris-filled waters coursing between mountainous terrain. The flood damaged or destroyed at least four bridges, multiple roads, about three dozen houses, power lines including 50 electricity poles, and telecommunications infrastructure, as well as equipment at a hydropower plant under construction along the river.

Authorities launched an extensive search-and-rescue operation involving 437 security personnel, including Nepal Army troops who utilized helicopters and ground teams to reach stranded residents. By Sunday afternoon, about 49 people had been rescued, while hundreds more downstream were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The operation was complicated by blocked or damaged roads, limiting immediate access to some villages.

Officials urged residents along the river and in areas with steep terrain to remain vigilant due to ongoing heavy monsoon rains, which increase the risk of further landslides and flooding. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority continued to warn communities to move to safer locations and maintain preparedness.

This flash flood comes as Nepal is still recovering from devastating floods in late August along the Nepal-China border region, which resulted in over 1,400 deaths and thousands missing. The government recently announced the end of search-and-rescue operations for that disaster, shifting focus to reconstruction efforts estimated to cost nearly $4.77 billion, aiming to restore roads, bridges, and homes damaged or destroyed.

The Budhi Gandaki River, a significant tributary that merges with the Trishuli River near Kathmandu, is a key waterway for the region. The recent event underscores the ongoing vulnerability of Nepal’s mountainous communities to natural disasters exacerbated by monsoon weather patterns and geological hazards.