Kathmandu, October 11
A debris-laden flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki River swept away more than 35 houses in several locations in northern Gorkha on Sunday morning, according to local officials.
Houses were swept away in Salleri, Bagar and Ghattikhola, among other places, said Nima Lama, chairperson of Chumnubri Rural Municipality.
The full extent of the damage has yet to be determined. Lama also said five cattle sheds in Chumchet had gone out of contact following a landslide in Churi.
The flood damaged a hydropower project under construction in Salleri and swept away a motorable bridge connecting Manbu and Soti.
It also destroyed a suspension bridge linking Nagchet and Sirdibas in Ward 3 of Chumnubri Rural Municipality with Machhakhola and Kerauja in Ward 5 of Dharche Rural Municipality, according to Police Inspector Akash Kadel.
A concrete bridge at Soti, which connects Wards 2 and 3 of Aarughat Rural Municipality, was also swept away, Kadel said.
Residents have fled their homes and moved to higher ground in search of safety.
“We have climbed up to the hills and are staying there,” said Ganesh Karki, a resident of Jagat. “There is nothing we can do except watch our houses being swept away.”
Karki said he had never witnessed such flooding in the Budhi Gandaki River. He said the floodwaters had subsided briefly before surging again suddenly.
Kumari Gurung, a resident of Sirdibas, said the flooding had not stopped and locals remained frightened.
The flood is believed to have occurred after Syarl Khola, a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki River, was temporarily blocked by a landslide and then suddenly burst open.
Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra said authorities were collecting details of the damage. No human casualties had been reported as of Sunday morning, he added.
