Residents living along the Budhi Gandaki river in north central Nepal had to evacuate on Sunday due to flash flooding that caused significant damage to homes and other structures. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority took action to evacuate villagers and advised others to relocate to safer areas while remaining vigilant until late Sunday. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Efforts are underway by the disaster management agency to determine the cause of the flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki river, a critical waterway that converges with the Trishuli river and is located near the capital city of Kathmandu.
Videos shared on social media depict houses and sheds being swept away by the rapid river amidst towering mountains. The extent of impact on the small villages in the mountainous region is yet to be fully assessed. Reports suggest that the government’s warning led to evacuations in Arughat, a town situated along the riverside on the highway linking Kathmandu to other regions of the country.
Nepal is still in the process of recovering from a devastating flood in August along the Nepal-China border, which resulted in over 1,400 fatalities and left thousands missing.
The office of Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah announced on Monday the conclusion of search and rescue operations for additional victims. The focus will now shift towards recovery efforts, including the restoration of infrastructure such as roads and bridges that were severed by the floods, particularly in remote areas where delivering aid has been challenging.
The government has estimated the reconstruction costs to be around $4.77 billion, with nearly 33,000 individuals affected and approximately 7,500 homes damaged or destroyed.