Nepali authorities have urged villagers to evacuate after a flood on the Budhi Gandaki River swept away homes, two suspension bridges and damaged a hydroelectric project. No casualties have been reported.
The flooding began after a dry landslide blocked the river in Chumnubri village, in Gorkha district, about 100km west of Kathmandu, officials said.
Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, Gorkha’s most senior bureaucrat, said residents living along the river downstream had been told to move to safer locations.
“We have asked villagers living along the river banks downstream to evacuate and remain safe,” he said.
The Budhi Gandaki is a tributary of the Trishuli River. The flooding occurred downstream from another tributary where a glacier collapse caused a catastrophic flood in August, killing 1,457 people, with thousands still missing.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority issued alerts to communities along the river in Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, East Nawalparasi and West Nawalparasi districts.
“Please help ensure that people in at-risk areas are moved to safe locations in time and assist search and rescue operations as needed,” the authority said in a social media post.
Army and police rescue personnel have reached the affected area, while officials are monitoring the situation from a helicopter.
