A sudden flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki River in northern Gorkha occurred before dawn on Sunday, October 11, 2026, destroying.
At least 35 houses, three bridges, and a temporary construction camp for a 341-megawatt hydropower project.
The flood struck the Chumanubri Rural Municipality-3 Sallery, Lokpa, and Siuribas around 4:30 AM, despite no prior rainfall in the area.
It is believed that a major upstream landslide or a temporary dam burst blocked the river, unleashing a sudden surge of water and debris.
This forced hundreds of local residents and trekkers, including foreign tourists, to evacuate.
Damage and Rescue Operations
District authorities and security forces are conducting evacuations and helicopter rescues in the affected areas:
- Significant Damage: Preliminary assessments in Sallery reveal that the flood swept away 35 houses, local lodges, and three crucial transit bridges (two footbridges and one steel motorable bridge), isolating the popular Manaslu trekking trail.
- Hydro-Electric Camp Affected: The flood also destroyed a temporary construction camp for the 341 MW Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, submerging machinery, vehicles, and workers’ quarters.
- Missing Residents: At least four villagers are still unaccounted for, while six have been rescued by security forces and private helicopters from hazardous areas in the Chumanubri region.
- River Flow Changes: Local witnesses reported that the river flow fluctuated several times before sunrise, suggesting a possible blockage upstream. Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra stated that emergency teams are heading to the upper catchment areas to investigate.
Home Ministry Alerts Residents
In response to the disaster, Home Minister Sudan Gurung has instructed local district administration offices and disaster management units in Gorkha, Dhading, and Chitwan to stay vigilant.
Authorities are using loudspeakers in the lower areas of the Budhi Gandaki and Trishuli rivers to urge residents in low-lying regions to evacuate to higher ground immediately. The Home Ministry has also requested that individuals needing emergency evacuation or flood reporting contact the central hotline at 1234.