Villages evacuated as flash flood from Budhi Gandaki river hits northern Nepal: news

Villages Evacuated as Flash Flood from Budhi Gandaki River Hits Northern Nepal

A sudden, powerful flash flood along the Budhi Gandaki River in north-central Nepal forced the mass evacuation of multiple riverside settlements on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The surge swept away houses, suspension bridges, and essential local infrastructure across the northern reaches of the Gorkha district, displacing residents and tourists alike.

Key Developments in the Gorkha Flash Flood

• Mass Evacuations: The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and local security personnel ordered urgent evacuations across vulnerable downstream villages, advising communities along the Budhi Gandaki corridor to move immediately to higher ground.

  The Hindu

• Cause of the Flood: Officials reported that an upstream landslide struck above Siuribas in the Chumnubri Rural Municipality. The debris temporarily dammed the Budhi Gandaki River before bursting, sending a violent torrent of mud, water, and debris downstream.

  Hindustan Times

• Widespread Structural Damage: The floodwaters destroyed homes in settlements such as Salleri, Paiyuka, and Jagat. Multiple vital suspension bridgesincluding those connecting Philim bazaar, Nyakchet, and Ward 3 of Chumnubriwere washed away, severing pedestrian routes and trekking trails.

  The Kathmandu Post

• Casualties and Rescue Operations: While extensive property and infrastructure loss occurred, authorities reported no immediate fatalities, largely because early morning rumblings allowed many riverside residents in Lokpa and Chumling to flee to safety before the surge crested.

Emergency Response and Ongoing Alerts

Units from the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force (APF), and local district authorities were mobilized to lead search, rescue, and relief logistics.

Disaster monitoring agencies have maintained a high alert along downstream sectors of the Gandaki river basin, cautioning that unpredictable river blockage points, unstable debris dams, and fluctuating water levels pose ongoing risks to surrounding Himalayan communities.