Kathmandu, October 11
At least 25 houses in Jagat village of Chumnubri Rural Municipality in northern Gorkha have been cut off after a sudden flood in the Budhi Gandaki River damaged roads and trails connecting the settlement.
Bhuvan Raj Ojha, chief of the Philim office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project, said residents of Jagat were unable to travel either uphill or downhill because the routes in both directions had been damaged.
“The residents of Jagat are stranded. They cannot go down from there or travel uphill,” Ojha said.
According to him, the flood washed away roads and foot trails at Salleri, blocking the route from Jagat towards settlements further uphill. The road towards Bagar below Jagat has also been cut off by flood damage.
Narayan Prasad Sapkota, chief administrative officer of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, said 25 houses in Jagat had been cut off from outside access. He added that nine houses in the village had been swept away, but residents were safe.
“The village of Jagat itself has been cut off. The road towards Kalebhir below the village has been completely washed away, while the route towards Salleri above has also been swept away. Travel is no longer possible,” Sapkota said.
The rural municipality is collecting verified details of the flood damage and preparing to distribute relief supplies.
“We are preparing to provide the local residents with tarpaulins for shelter and food supplies first,” Sapkota said.
