Gorkha, October 14
Kamala Gurung arrived in Arughat on Monday, clutching her 16-month-old child. The Nepal Army helicopter had rescued her from Salleri, but she still has no certainty about where she will sleep or how she will feed her family.
Floods in the Budhi Gandaki River swept away her home and all her belongings, leaving her with nothing but the clothes she was wearing.
“The flood swept away everything, including our clothes,” she told Onlinekhabar. “Now I have no idea what we will eat or where we will stay.”
Sundar Gurung, also from Salleri, has suffered a similar loss. He managed to escape with his life, but the flood destroyed everything he owned.
Sundar was asleep when the flood struck. Awakened by a sudden, loud noise, he ran to higher ground above his house. He watched as the flood swept his home away.
“I couldn’t take anything out of the house. Even the clothes I am wearing were borrowed from someone else,” he said.
With no way to earn a living in the village, Sundar has left with his family for Arughat. He plans to travel to Kathmandu in search of work.
“What is the point of staying in the village when nothing is left?” he said. “The road is unlikely to reopen immediately, and even getting food will become difficult. That is why I am going to Kathmandu to find somewhere I can earn a living.”
Many other families are facing the same hardship. Salleri, Paiyun, Bagar, Jagat, Machhikhola, Shantibazaar in Arughat and Soti are among the areas worst affected by the floods. According to the District Administration Office, more than 100 houses in these areas have been completely destroyed.
The disaster has struck during the festive season, leaving families without homes or reliable shelter. Some have taken refuge with relatives and neighbours, while those with no other options are leaving their villages.
Residents have called on the authorities to step up relief distribution and make arrangements for their resettlement.
Northern Gorkha cut off after bridges and trails swept away
Flood damage has severed access to parts of northern Gorkha, including the Chum Valley, after trekking trails and bridges were destroyed.
The District Police Office said 10 bridges, including two permanent motorable bridges, had been swept away.
“The two permanent motorable bridges connecting Soti with Manbu and Arughat with Dhading were swept away,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajkumar Shrestha. “The Bailey bridge connecting Dobhan in Dharche Rural Municipality-1 with Uhiya, along with several suspension bridges, was also washed away.”
Other damaged crossings include suspension bridges linking Nagchet in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3 with Sirdibas, Machhikhola with Kerauja, Dobhan with Hulchuk, and Lokpa with Gumlun. Bridges at Paiyun and Thadobharayang were also affected, as was a cantilever bridge connecting Lokpa in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-6 with Gumlun.
The damage to trails and bridges has disrupted access to several settlements in the region, police said.
Trekking to Chum Valley suspended
Trekking to the Chum Valley has been temporarily suspended after Sunday’s floods damaged the cantilever bridge and trekking routes at several locations, according to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP).
The destruction of the cantilever bridge at Sardibhir in Lokpa, Chumnubri Rural Municipality-6, has blocked the trail to Chhekampar.
Several sections of the route between Machhikhola in Dharche Rural Municipality and Jagat in Chumnubri Rural Municipality have also been damaged, said Bhuvan Raj Ojha, information officer at MCAP.
Trekkers heading to Samagaun can travel directly by helicopter to Philim, he said. The trail from Philim to Larkya Pass remains open and safe, but routes from Machhikhola to Jagat and through Salleri have been damaged.
MCAP said it was coordinating with the relevant authorities to repair the affected trails.
Residents of northern Gorkha have urged the government to reopen the routes blocked by floods and landslides, warning that the disruption could lead to food shortages in remote settlements.
“There is no food available up there. Mules have to carry supplies from below,” said Sherap Gurung of Chumchet. “Because the trail is closed, we cannot bring food in. We are worried that people could face hunger.”
He urged the government to repair the trails and restore the transport of food supplies by mule.
Five missing as rescue and relief operations continue
Five people remain missing after the floods and accompanying landslides, Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra said. Search operations are under way, alongside the rescue of stranded residents and the distribution of relief supplies.
“We have rescued around 400 people so far,” Mishra said, adding that three Nepal Army helicopters had been deployed for the operation.
Relief materials, including tents, food, medicines, lights, solar equipment, generators and clothing, have been airlifted to affected areas. The supplies are being distributed through a one-door system, Mishra said.
