A flash flood struck central Nepal on Sunday morning, sweeping away approximately 35 to 40 houses, six bridges, and damaging hydropower infrastructure in the Gorkha district, authorities said.
The Budhi Gandaki River surged around 4 a.m. local time after a landslide temporarily blocked its course in the Chumnubri area, roughly 100 kilometers west of Kathmandu. When the natural obstruction gave way, water levels rose rapidly—from two meters to more than eight meters in hours—sending a torrent of mud, rocks, and debris downstream.
The floodwaters destroyed homes in the settlements of Jagat Bagar, Salleri, Ghattekhola, Painyu, and Bagar. The surge also destroyed two motorable bridges and four suspension footbridges, severing critical transport links and isolating several communities. A construction camp and equipment belonging to a 341-megawatt hydroelectric project sustained damage.
At least five people were reported missing, including two women and three men who had been staying near the Ungilung River in a temporary structure. Local residents said they could not locate the structure to search for the missing individuals.
The Nepal Army reported rescuing 49 people by helicopter and ground operations. Authorities said more than 80 people, including nine foreign nationals, were rescued overall. Hundreds of residents living downstream were evacuated to safer areas as water levels continued to fluctuate.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority issued red alerts for residents along the river in Gorkha and neighboring districts, urging people to leave riverbanks and move to higher ground. Officials warned of continued threats from downstream flooding.
The disaster struck as Nepal prepared to observe Dashain, one of the country's major festivals. It occurred less than two months after catastrophic floods in late August triggered by a glacier collapse that killed more than 1,450 people and left over 5,200 missing, primarily in border areas with Tibet.
Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle said the landslide had caused the sudden water level rise. Authorities stated they were still assessing the full extent of damage and investigating the exact cause of the flooding.