Flash floods in Nepal’s Budhi Gandaki River sweep away homes and bridges; evacuations ordered

An estimated 35 to 40 houses and several bridges have been swept away in Gorkha, while a suspected landslide may have triggered the flooding. Five people have been reported missing as rescue efforts continue.

A flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki swept away houses and bridges early Sunday, forcing residents of Chumnubri and Dharche to flee to higher ground in the dark. Five people are missing, and six have been rescued by air.

Flooding has swept away houses and bridges in Gorkha’s Chumnubri and Dharche rural municipalities, while a hydropower project’s construction site has also been damaged. The full extent of the damage remains unclear.

Nepal flash flood sweeps away at least houses

Flooding reportedly triggered by landslide sweeps away three bridges and dozens of homes

The disaster management agency is trying to determine the cause of the flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki river.

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Residents along the Budhi Gandaki river in north central Nepal evacuated on Sunday as flash flooding destroyed homes and other structures in the area. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority evacuated villagers and warned others to move to safer areas while remaining on alert until late Sunday. There were no immediate reports of casualties. READ: The floods keep coming. Nepal keeps starting over The disaster management agency is trying to determine the cause of the flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki river, which merges into the Trishuli river and is a key waterway near the capital […]...Keep on reading: Another flash flood hits Nepal: houses swept away, villages evacuated

A sudden flash flood in Nepal’s Gorkha district triggered panic early Sunday, October 11, after a massive surge in the Budhi Gandaki River swept away several houses and threatened settlements along its banks. Authorities issued urgent safety warnings, urging residents to leave vulnerable areas and move to higher ground. No deaths or injuries had been reported at the time of the latest updates.The river began rising sharply around 4 am, with the force of the water reportedly audible from a considerable distance. Rescue and assessment efforts are underway as officials investigate what caused the sudden flooding.Landslide Suspected Behind Sudden FloodingPreliminary information suggests that a landslide above Siuribas, in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-6, may have blocked the Chumke Khola stream, leading to a sudden release of water downstream.Nepal is facing flash floods AGAIN latest visuals from Gorkha district are heartbreaking.The entire Himalayan belt needs to learn from what’s happening in Nepal. Our mountains are fragile, and we can’t keep ignoring nature in the name of development. #Nepal pic.twitter.com/x4j7OetIJF— Nikhil saini (@iNikhilsaini) October 11, 2026 Narayan Sapkota, chief administrative officer of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, said officials suspect the river’s flow may also have been obstructed near Chekampar. According to the preliminary assessment, a temporary dam formed by the landslide could have breached, releasing a large volume of water. However, this possibility has not yet been confirmed.Gorkha Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra said the district administration received information about the major flood at approximately 4:35 am.Several Houses Swept Away, Riverside Areas at RiskThe flooding caused significant damage in Jagat, where approximately five to seven houses situated in the riverbed were reportedly swept away. Officials fear that additional houses farther downstream may also have been affected.Terrifying scenes in Nepal as flash floods strike once again!! ⚠️DEVASTATING FLOOD SWEEPS AWAY SALLERI BAZAAR IN NEPALNepal’s Budhi Gandaki River has unleashed a devastating flood in Salleri Bazaar, Gorkha, with a landslide suspected of blocking the river before triggering…— Megh Updates ™ (@MeghUpdates) October 11, 2026 Settlements along the river remain vulnerable as authorities assess the extent of the damage. Residents of Jagat Bazaar and Sallery have been warned about the potential danger, while people in Chumling and Lokpa have also started moving away from riverside areas.The situation remains under assessment, and officials are working to establish the full extent of the destruction and identify any further risks to nearby communities.Nepal Authorities Issue Flood Alerts, Urge EvacuationNepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) issued an SMS warning through its Flood Forecasting Section at 6:40 am. The alert cautioned people against approaching the river until the flood passed through the stretch leading to Trishuli Dobhan and urged them to “stay in high places”.बुढीगण्डकी नदीमा बाढी खतरा तहभन्दा माथि रहेको र बढ्नेघट्ने क्रम जारी रहेकोले त्रिसुली नदी बेनिघाट सम्म (अति उच्च जोखिम) रहुनेहुनेले उच्च स्थानमा जानुहोला, मुगलिङ सम्म (उच्च जोखिम) रहनुहुनेले उच्च सतर्कतामा बस्नु होला।— NDRRMA (@NDRRMA_Nepal) October 11, 2026 The Area Police Office in Arughat has also issued a safety advisory. Authorities are using loudspeakers to alert people living along the river and direct them towards safer locations. The Flood Forecasting Division has separately sent SMS alerts urging residents to remain cautious.Officials have begun gathering information from affected areas, while preparations are underway to deploy a Nepali Army helicopter to survey the situation from the air. The aerial assessment is expected to help authorities understand the scale of the damage and determine the next course of action.

The flash floods occurred in the Chumnubri village in Gorkha district after the water level increased in the Budhi Gandaki River.

Residents along the Budhi Gandaki river were evacuated on Sunday as flash flooding destroyed homes and other structures in the area.

Residents in north central Nepal have evacuated after flash flooding on the Budhi Gandaki river

A dry landslide in north-central Nepal triggers flash flooding that prompts villagers to evacuate. 

Residents in north central Nepal have evacuated after flash flooding on the Budhi Gandaki river

Flash flooding in Nepal has swept away buildings along the Budhi Gandaki river on Sunday.

Residents in north central Nepal have evacuated after flash flooding on the Budhi Gandaki river

Kathmandu [Nepal], October 11: A sudden surge in the water level of the Budhi Gandaki River has swept away several houses in Gorkha, Nepal, prompting authorities to issue warnings and evacuation orders for settlements along the river on Sunday morning.Officials are yet to ascertain the cause of the surge in water levels, accompanied by mud and sludge, which has swept away several houses along its path. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA)'s flood forecasting section issued an alert for settlements along the river early on Sunday morning, warning of possible flooding.Flood alert issued for riverside settlements“#SMSAlert October 11, Morning 06:40. A large flood is coming from Chumanuwmi Rural Municipality-6 of the Budhi Gandaki River, so until the flood passes, do not go near the river up to Trishuli Dobhan. Stay in high places. - Flood Forecasting Section,” the warning reads.A short while ago: A devastating flash flood has swept away Salleri Bazaar (Market) and caused severe destruction in Jagat Bazaar along the Budhi Gandaki River, Gorkha District, Nepal.(Video provided by Umesh.) https://t.co/aK74PD0S5t— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) October 11, 2026According to Gorkha Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, preliminary reports indicated that a landslide had occurred above Siuribas in Chumnubri Rural Municipality.Several houses swept away in Gorkha“The report is that five to seven houses in the riverbed at Jagat have been swept away. A few other houses have also reportedly been swept away downstream. We are working on getting updates from the ground,” Mishra told ANI over the phone.Nepal Tourist Arrivals Rise 12.1% In September Despite Devastating August Floods, India Remains Top Source Market“No casualties have been reported till now,” the official confirmed.According to local officials in the district, the river had swelled sharply early on Sunday morning, and the loud sound of the river's flow was heard.Possible landslide blockage under investigation“The water level had surged from early morning at around 4 AM. The sound of the flow of water in the river was also loud. The Ugylung and Syar streams have surged. We suspect a possible blockage of the river's flow in Chekampar and that the dam formed after the landslide in the river might have been breached,” Narayan Sapkota, Chief Administrative Officer of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, told ANI over the phone.Also Watch:Residents evacuated as authorities issue warningsResidents in riverside settlements, including Chumling and Lokpa, left their homes as the water level rose. The Area Police Office in Arughat issued a safety advisory, while authorities began using loudspeakers to warn people living along the river and urge them to move to safer places.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

Kathmandu: A debris-laden flash flood in a river has swept away more than 35 houses and bridges in Nepal's Gorkha district on Sunday, authorities said, urging people living along the stream to move to higher ground.The flood in the Budhi Gandaki River swept away houses in Salleri, Paiyuka and the riverbed at Jagat, as well as a suspension bridge connecting the ward, Ram Kumar Gurung, ward chair of Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3, was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.Also Read: Nepal floods: 1,453 dead, nearly 5,300 still missing a month after disasterDharmendra Kumar Mishra, Gorkha's chief district officer, said preliminary reports indicated that a landslide had occurred above Siuribas. No casualties have been reported so far, he said.The cause of the sudden surge remained unclear. Residents suspect that the Syar stream, a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki between Lokpa and Chumling in Chumnubri-6, may have been blocked, triggering the flood.The flash flood in the river swept away more than 35 houses in several locations in northern Gorkha, officials said.Also Read: Nepal wraps up Rasuwa flood search; shifts focus to rehabilitation, reconstructionChumnubri Rural Municipality Deputy Chair Laxmi Gurung said the flood that hit the Budhi Gandaki this morning is reminiscent of the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa, Online Khabar news portal reported."The Budhigandaki flood is reminiscent of the Bhotekoshi flood," she said. "It has washed away dozens of houses. It is not possible to say the exact extent of the damage right now."The devastating flooding struck the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district on August 26. The floods in the Rasuwa and Trishuli river areas claimed 1,455 lives, while 5,285 people remained missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).Home Minister Sudan Gurung said the flood had also swept away the bridge linking Nyakchet and Philim bazaar in Chumnubri-3. With the river continuing to rise, helicopters had been deployed for rescue operations, relief distribution and evacuations, he said.Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and local authorities were mobilised to carry out rescue and relief operations."The flood came early in the morning, and we could not even take out our belongings," Ram Kumar said."Everyone fled as soon as we heard the flood was coming." The full extent of the damage was not yet known, he said.Residents in riverside settlements, including Chumling and Lokpa, fled their homes after hearing loud roaring sounds from the streams from around 4am. Tourists staying at local hotels also fled, residents said.Sherap Gurung, a resident of Lokpa, said the sound suggested that the water flow had repeatedly stopped and resumed."Because it was dark, we could not tell whether the stream had been blocked or a landslide had occurred. It had not rained either," he said.Authorities were using loudspeakers to warn people living along the river and urge them to move to safer locations.

The cause of the sudden surge remains unclear

Authorities said several houses and two suspension bridges had been swept away, and a hydroelectric project was damaged by the flood.

Nepal's disaster management authority has issued an urgent flood warning after a river swept away several houses and infrastructure.

Nepal's disaster management authority has issued an urgent flood warning after a river swept away several houses and infrastructure.