Kathmandu, October 11
A sudden flood carrying mud, rocks and debris swept through settlements along the Budhi Gandaki River in northern Gorkha on Sunday, damaging houses, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. Five people remain missing, while 82 people, including nine foreign nationals, have been rescued.
Here is what we know so far.
1. Where did the flood originate?
Preliminary observations point to the Ungilung Khola, a tributary that flows into the Syarkhola before joining the Budhi Gandaki. A team led by Sushil Thapa, managing director of the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, reported seeing floodwater travel from the Ungilung Khola through the Syarkhola and into the Budhi Gandaki.
The precise point of origin and the mechanism that triggered the flood have yet to be confirmed.
2. Did a landslide trigger the flood?
The Nepal Army’s preliminary reconnaissance team reported that a dry landslide in the Philim area of Chumnubri-3 had blocked the Budhi Gandaki, with the subsequent release of water triggering the flood.
However, this account has not yet been conclusively established by a technical investigation. Authorities have deployed geologists and drone-equipped personnel to examine the terrain and determine what happened.
3. What has been damaged?
The flood damaged settlements, bridges and hydropower infrastructure along the river corridor. Preliminary reports indicate that the powerhouse and nearby houses associated with the 341-megawatt Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project at Salleri were swept away. A Bailey bridge belonging to the 14.15-megawatt Dobhan Khola Hydropower Project was also washed away.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority’s preliminary report, two motorable bridges, two suspension bridges and three hydropower projects were affected.
4. How many people have been affected?
At least 45 houses were completely destroyed and another 27 partially damaged. The flood also damaged livestock and animal sheds and three vehicles.
Five people — two women and three men — remain missing in the Ungilung area of Chumchet, Chumnubri-6. Authorities have rescued 82 people from affected areas, including nine foreign nationals.
5. Has the flood disrupted travel?
Yes. Damage to bridges has disrupted road connections between Gorkha and Dhading and movement between settlements along the Budhi Gandaki. The destruction has also affected Jagat Bazaar, a key access point for trekkers entering the Manaslu region.
Local administration records show that more than 100 tourists entered the Manaslu area through Jagat on Saturday, a day before the flood.
6. What are authorities doing now?
Search and rescue operations, relief distribution and damage assessments are continuing. Technical teams are investigating the flood’s origin and surrounding geological conditions, while officials are assessing options for installing Bailey bridges as temporary replacements for damaged crossings.
7. What remains unknown?
Investigators have yet to establish the exact location of any river blockage, whether a landslide caused the obstruction and how the water was released. The full extent of the damage and the number of people affected may also change as teams reach remote settlements.
For now, the Ungilung Khola, Syarkhola and Budhi Gandaki provide the geographical trail for investigators. Establishing precisely what triggered the sudden surge will require further fieldwork and scientific analysis.
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