Kathmandu, October 11
A landslide in Ungilung Khola, a small tributary of Syar Khola in northern Gorkha, may have triggered the devastating flood in the Budhi Gandaki River, according to Sushil Thapa, managing director of Times Energy Pvt Ltd.
Thapa flew by helicopter to the flood-affected area on Sunday morning, shortly after the disaster, to assess the damage.
According to Thapa, initial observations suggest that a landslide occurred in Ungilung Khola before the flood struck. Syar Khola is a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki River.
The confluence of Syar Khola and the Budhi Gandaki River lies about five kilometres from Philim. Thapa said the landslide occurred in Ungilung Khola, a small tributary on the left bank of Syar Khola in Chumchet-6.
The area is being considered a possible source of the flood, although the cause has yet to be confirmed.
The flood caused extensive damage to the 341-megawatt Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, a semi-reservoir-type project being developed by Times Energy. It swept away the project’s main camp area, buildings and construction equipment.
Photo: Sushil Thapa
