Severe floods in Nepal destroy homes and infrastructure

Nepalese authorities on Sunday urged villagers to move to safer locations after a massive flood swept away several homes and infrastructure in central Nepal, though no deaths or injuries have been reported.

Officials said a dry landslide in Chumnubri village, Gorkha district, about 100 kilometers west of Kathmandu, blocked the Budhi Gandaki River, causing flooding in downstream areas.

The Budhi Gandaki River is a tributary of the Trishuli River, which lies downstream from another tributary that experienced a glacial collapse in August, resulting in a catastrophic flood that killed 1,457 people and left thousands missing.

Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, the top official in Gorkha district, said, "We have asked villagers living along the riverbanks in downstream areas to evacuate and stay safe."

Mishra added that several houses and two suspension bridges were swept away, and a hydropower project was damaged by the flood.

Dharam Raj Upreti, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said the river, now carrying muddy water, continues to rise and has washed away a bridge on the highway connecting Gorkha to neighboring Dhading district.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah said in a social media post that the army had rescued six people from Jajat who were at risk from a landslide. Upreti added that 18 other workers from the damaged hydropower project camp managed to escape to safety.

National disaster authorities have warned residents living along the river in Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, East Nawalparasi, and West Nawalparasi districts about the flooding.

In a social media post, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said, "Please help ensure that people in at-risk areas are relocated to safe sites in time, and assist with search and rescue operations as needed."

Officials said army and police rescue teams have reached the area and are also monitoring the situation by helicopter.

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