On Sunday, people living near the Budhi Gandaki river in north-central Nepal fled their homes as sudden floodwaters swept away local buildings and properties. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority evacuated villagers, though no immediate casualties were reported following the disaster.
Emergency Evacuations and Government Response
Villagers were safely moved by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, which also advised residents to seek refuge in secure locations and stay vigilant through Sunday night. The disaster management agency is trying to determine the cause of the flash flood.
The swollen waterway flows between tall mountains before merging into the Trishuli river, serving as a key waterway near the capital Kathmandu. Social media footage captured by locals showed houses and sheds being swept away by the raging torrent. While the exact number of impacted mountain hamlets remains unclear, official warnings triggered evacuations in Arughat, a riverside town situated along the highway connecting Kathmandu to other regions.
Broader Infrastructure Recovery Efforts
The sudden flooding compounds ongoing recovery challenges across Nepal following a devastating flood in August along the mountainous Nepal-China border. That earlier catastrophe left more than 1,400 people dead and thousands more missing.
Authorities are instead shifting focus toward recovery, prioritizing the restoration of roads and bridges cut off by floodwaters. Remote areas remain heavily impacted, where damaged infrastructure continues to complicate vital aid deliveries.
Government estimates place the total rebuilding bill at $4.77 billion. Across the affected regions, nearly 33,000 people have been affected, with approximately 7,500 homes suffering varying degrees of damage or total destruction.
