Nepal’s military rescuers reached an area affected by a sudden flood on Monday. Helicopters and soldiers delivered food and aid along the Budhi Gandaki river in north-central Nepal and started evacuating residents and tourists. Fortunately, there have been no fatalities reported, with five people missing. Thanks to early warnings, most individuals were able to move to higher ground before the flood struck.
The flood on Sunday was triggered by a landslide that initially blocked the river near Chumchure village, causing significant damage. Five bridges, three hydropower plant construction sites, and numerous houses and farms were destroyed or damaged. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that 95 people, including nine foreigners, have been relocated to nearby towns.
The affected area includes popular trekking routes for hikers, with October being a peak season for visitors. Supplies such as food, tents, and medicine are being transported by trucks to accessible areas, while army helicopters are reaching remote mountain villages with aid.
The Budhi Gandaki River, a significant waterway near Kathmandu, merges into the Trishuli River. Social media videos depict homes and structures being swept away by the powerful river between towering mountains, although the full extent of the impact on small villages in the mountainous region is still unclear.
Nepal continues to recover from a catastrophic flood in August that ravaged the mountainous Nepal-China border, resulting in over 1,400 deaths and many missing persons. Search and rescue operations concluded on October 5, shifting focus to infrastructure rehabilitation efforts.
