KATHMANDU, Oct 12: Residents of Chumnubri Rural Municipality woke before dawn Sunday to shaking they initially mistook for an earthquake. The tremors came from the roaring Budhigandaki River, swollen by the collapse of a landslide dam upstream.
Recognising the danger, residents called downstream communities, police and administrators. By the time the flood reached settlements along the river, many families had fled. Officials credited those warnings with preventing widespread casualties, although five people remain missing.
The flood destroyed 45 homes, partially damaged 27 others and swept away eight bridges. Four hydropower projects under construction, with a combined capacity of about 412 megawatts, also suffered damage.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said a large landslide between Lokpa and Chumling in Chumnubri Ward 6 blocked the river, forming a lake that subsequently burst.
Narayan Prasad Sapkota, the municipality’s chief administrative officer, said his house, about 400 metres from the river, shook around 4 am.
“I initially thought it was an earthquake. Then I heard the river roaring,” he said. “Villagers raised the alarm, and we immediately phoned downstream communities. Police and administrators received the warning in time.”
Sapkota said preliminary information suggested a landslide had blocked a tributary for at least three hours before the accumulated water broke through. Reaching the landslide site from his settlement takes at least five hours on foot.
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Memories of the devastating Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa about six weeks earlier helped persuade residents to move quickly, he said.
Chumnubri Vice-chairperson Laxmi Gurung learned of the flood around 3:45 am and began contacting communities. She said the river’s wider channel downstream appeared to slow the flood, giving residents more time to escape.
Authorities warned people in Khorlabesi, Machhakhola, Soti, Arkhet and Arughat to relocate. Tarpaulins and food were sent to displaced families.
Municipal officials reported that the flood swept away 10 houses in Paiyu, seven in Ghattekhola, 10 in Jagat and four in Salleri. Sapkota said the destruction had cut off upper Gorkha, leaving helicopters as the only means of access.
Police said five residents who had been staying in livestock shelters beside Ungilung Khola in Chumnubri Ward 6 remained unaccounted for. They are Sonam Lama, 65; his wife Mommoaji Lama, 59; Som Bhuti Lama, 66; Karma Lama, 73; and Pema Dorje Lama, 41, all from Chumchet.
Assistant Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma said timely warnings had limited casualties despite extensive property damage. Local governments arranged food and shelter for displaced residents, and the immediate threat had eased.
About 700 security personnel were deployed, according to the Home Ministry. Armed Police Force Deputy Superintendent Sudip Regmi said 350 displaced residents and nine foreigners had been moved to safety.
Security teams rescued stranded people, moved livestock and cleared debris. An army helicopter supported operations upstream, while Nepal Police and Armed Police Force teams worked downstream. Trekkers were also brought to safe locations.
The Department of Roads said two motorable bridges were swept away: the iron bridge at Soti connecting Arughat wards 2 and 3, and the concrete bridge linking Arughat with Dhading. Officials said one of the latter bridge’s three sections collapsed.
A preliminary assessment by the Suspension Bridge Division identified six suspension bridges destroyed across Chumnubri, Dharche, Arughat and upstream areas. These included crossings connecting Nyakchet with Sirdibas and Machhakhola with Keraunja.
The losses came as the government was preparing to rebuild 42 bridges destroyed by the August 26 Bhotekoshi flood. The latest destruction has disrupted travel and access to isolated settlements.
The flood also damaged two telecommunications towers and 50 electricity poles. Water entered lower Machhakhola, putting around 20 to 22 homes at risk.
The Flood Forecasting Division said only scattered rainfall had occurred near the landslide site during the preceding 24 hours, making rainfall alone an unlikely explanation.
At the Arughat monitoring station, water levels rose from 2.28 metres to 3.66 metres by 6:30 am. By 7:50 am, they reached 5.01 metres, exceeding the five-metre danger threshold. Levels climbed to 6.22 metres at 8:30 am and 8.43 metres ten minutes later.
The Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal reported damage to the 341 MW Budhigandaki, 24.5 MW Dobhan Khola, 30.59 MW Yaru Khola and 16 MW Machhakhola projects. Association President Mohan Kumar Dangi said preliminary reports indicated no casualties at the sites.
Times Energy said the Budhigandaki project lost its camp, access road, Bailey bridge and construction equipment. Dobhan Khola suffered damage to camp buildings and lost its Bailey bridge. Yaru Khola’s Bailey bridge, materials and equipment were damaged or swept away. Machhakhola’s access road and connecting bridge also sustained damage.
Former disaster authority chief Anil Pokharel called for closer study of recurring sudden floods in Himalayan areas. Recent events in Manang, the Kaligandaki basin and Rasuwa’s Bhotekoshi showed the need to examine environmental changes, he said. The Budhigandaki flood, he warned, should not be treated as an isolated event. (Written by: Santosh Pokhrel, Bhuwan Sharma and Madhu Jung Pandey)