A major river in central Nepal has flooded, sweeping away houses, suspension bridges and part of a hydropower project in Gorkha district. Officials said 95 people were rescued along the Budhi Gandaki River, but five were reported missing. The floods came less than two months after catastrophic floods on Nepal’s border with Tibet, which the BBC reports killed more than 1,400 people.
This explainer sets out what has been reported, what the authorities have said, and what remains unclear.
What happened on Sunday
The flood tore through Gorkha district as communities prepared for the first day of Dashain, one of the most important festivals in the Nepali calendar. A flood video shows raging water sweeping down a valley and washing away a whole building complex, according to the BBC.
Within a couple of hours, the river’s water level at one location rose from two metres (6ft 5in) to nearly 8.5 metres (27ft 9in), officials said. A hydrological station was swept away, which meant the authorities lost data from that point on the river.
The official figures
Officials said 95 people were rescued from the riverbank, including nine foreigners, and the army confirmed the rescue number. No deaths had been reported at the time of the BBC’s reporting, but five people were missing.
Nepal’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said more than 200 homes were damaged and more than 650 people were affected. The disaster management authority said about a dozen houses and several suspension bridges were swept away, and a hydroelectric project was damaged, with some construction equipment carried off.
These figures may change as assessments continue. Officials have been describing the situation as developing, so later counts may differ from the early ones.
The response
The army said it had sent four helicopters for search and rescue. The Kathmandu Post reported that some settlements had been completely cut off and could only be reached by air. Families who fled their homes face uncertainty over shelter and access to essential supplies.
One resident of Jagatbagar told the Kathmandu Post that he and others took shelter about 500 metres uphill after receiving a warning call early in the morning. He said the water surged for about 15 minutes and then stopped repeatedly through the morning.
Why the country is still vulnerable
Nepal is still recovering from the earlier floods on its border with Tibet. The BBC reports those killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing. Repeated flooding over a short period puts pressure on rescue teams, shelter and roads, especially in remote districts where bridges and tracks have been lost.
What is confirmed and what is not
- Confirmed by officials: the flood, the rescue of 95 people, five people missing, more than 200 homes damaged, and the loss of bridges and a hydrological station.
- Not yet confirmed: the final death toll from this flood, and whether the missing people will be found.
- Context from the BBC: the earlier floods killed more than 1,400 people, a figure that is reported rather than independently verified in this article.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the flood happen?
In Gorkha district in central Nepal, along the Budhi Gandaki River.
How many people were rescued?
Officials said 95 people were rescued, including nine foreigners, along the riverbank.
Were there any deaths?
No deaths had been reported at the time of the BBC’s reporting, but five people were missing. Check official updates for later figures.
Why are some villages hard to reach?
Some settlements have been cut off after bridges were swept away, and a local official told the Kathmandu Post they can only be reached by air.
Why does the loss of the hydrological station matter?
The meteorologist Binod Parajuli said the hydrological station was swept away and no data was coming from that location. Without it, forecasters have less information about river levels upstream and downstream.
Sources
- BBC News: Homes and bridges swept away as fresh floods hit Nepal
- The Kathmandu Post: Flood cuts off two villages along Budhigandaki in Gorkha
- The Kathmandu Post: Locals alerted each other of Budhigandaki flood an hour before official warning
- The Guardian: Floods demolish bridge in central Nepal (video)
- The Guardian: Nepal
