A dry landslide may have caused the Budhi Gandaki flood, leading to a sudden surge of muddy water and gravel. Authorities have alerted communities along the Trishuli and Narayani rivers.
The Nepali Army believes that a blockage in the river in northern Gorkha was created by the landslide. When the blockage broke, the water mixed with silt and gravel, damaging several areas.
Authorities are investigating the flood’s cause while assessing its impact. A helicopter with a disaster management team is examining the site upstream. According to Dharma Raj Upreti, CEO of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRMA), this flood resembles a recent one in Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi that also involved silt, gravel, and water.
On Sunday at around 5:55 am, the Nepali Army received reports of the blocked river in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3. A team from the Rudradhwaj Battalion confirmed the dry landslide in Philim by 6:15 am.
The NDRMA is also investigating the flood’s origins. Upreti noted its similarity to the recent Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi flood, which involved significant silt and gravel.
Authorities have dispatched a drone team to investigate upstream. Sushil Thapa, managing director of Times Energy Pvt Ltd, suggested that the flood’s source might be in Ungilung Khola, a small branch of Syar Khola in Chumchet-6, Gorkha.
Thapa flew to the affected area on Sunday morning to assess the damage to the 341-megawatt Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project owned by his company.
The confluence of Syar Khola and Budhi Gandaki is about five kilometers from Philim, and investigators are exploring whether a landslide in Ungilung Khola blocked the stream before it reached Budhi Gandaki.
Currently, the official cause of the flood remains unconfirmed, and authorities are still speculating.
Damage to Houses, Bridges, and Hydropower Infrastructure
The flash flood in northern Gorkha has caused significant damage to homes, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure.
Preliminary reports indicate that two suspension bridges were affected: one connecting Nyakchet in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3 to Sirdibas and another linking Machhikhola in Dharche Rural Municipality-5 to Keroja.
Additionally, part of the permanent bridge connecting Gorkha and Dhading through Arughat was damaged. In Salleri, Dharche Rural Municipality-3, the construction site of the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project was flooded, and its powerhouse sustained damage.
Authorities reported that eight to ten houses around the hydropower project in Dharche Rural Municipality-3 were damaged. A pucca house was swept away, eight houses and sheds were flooded, and 22 houses are at risk. Six individuals from Jagat in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3 were rescued by a Nepali Army helicopter.
Flood Alert Issued for Trishuli and Narayani Rivers
Authorities have issued alerts for residents living along the Trishuli and Narayani rivers following the Budhi Gandaki flash flood.
Notices urge people to stay safe as water levels rise. Those involved in rituals, swimming, fishing, or conducting business near the river are advised to evacuate to safer areas. Attendees of cremation ceremonies are also warned to keep away from riverbanks, and traders are advised not to store goods near the river.
Additionally, alerts have been issued for downstream areas along the Trishuli and Narayani rivers due to rising water levels. Authorities warned that flooding is most likely in the lower reaches of the Budhi Gandaki River near Mugling. Residents are advised to remain vigilant as officials monitor the situation.
Residents Advised to Stay Vigilant
The flash flood affecting the Budhi Gandaki River has raised concerns about potential landslides and severe flooding in mountain communities.
Authorities are investigating the flood’s cause while assessing damage and coordinating rescue efforts. Residents along the Budhi Gandaki, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers are urged to avoid riverbanks, heed warnings, and move to higher ground if possible. The extent of the damage and the flood’s cause are still under investigation, and the situation in affected areas remains dynamic.