Nepal is once again facing a severe natural disaster as the Budhi Gandaki river has experienced sudden and massive flooding. This surge in water levels was triggered by a significant landslide that occurred in the Gorkha district, leading to the destruction of critical infrastructure. According to reports, three major bridges have been washed away by the force of the water, and several residential areas are now submerged. The local administration has issued an urgent appeal to residents living near the riverbanks to move to higher ground and maintain a safe distance from the water bodies until the situation stabilizes.
Landslide and Immediate Impact in Gorkha
The disaster management department of Nepal has confirmed that the sudden flood in the Budhi Gandaki river originated from Ward Number 6 of the Chumanubri Rural Municipality. The Nepal Police reported that a massive landslide occurred between Lokpa and Chumling in Chumanubri-6, where a large volume of soil and stones fell from the mountains, effectively blocking the natural flow of the river. When the blockage eventually gave way, it released a torrent of water that caused widespread destruction downstream. The department used social media platforms like X to warn citizens, specifically advising people not to venture near the riverbanks up to Trishuli Dobhan.
Destruction of Critical Bridges
The flooding has dealt a heavy blow to the connectivity of the region. In Chumanubri-3, an old suspension bridge that served as a vital link between Nyakchet and Sirdibas was completely washed away. Further downstream in Dharche-5, another suspension bridge connecting Machhakhola and Kerauja was destroyed by the raging currents. The destruction didn't stop there, as an iron bridge located at Soti, which connected Ward 2 and Ward 3 of Arughat, was also swept away. These bridges were essential for the movement of people and goods in these remote mountainous terrains, and their loss has isolated several communities.
Threat to Residential Settlements
The impact on human settlements has been equally alarming, while in the lower settlement of Machhakhola, floodwaters have entered 5 to 7 houses, causing damage to property and belongings. In Salleri, located in Dharche-3, the situation is even more precarious as approximately 20 to 22 houses are currently under direct threat from the rising water levels and eroding riverbanks. Disaster management teams and local authorities are actively engaged in rescue operations, working to evacuate people from the most vulnerable areas to safer locations.
Context of the Devastating August Floods
This recent incident follows a catastrophic flooding event that occurred on August 26, when the Bhotekoshi river overflowed. That disaster resulted in a staggering loss of life, with more than 1400 deaths reported and over 6000 people declared missing. 66 billion US dollars. A report by the World Bank highlighted that 83 percent of this total economic loss was related to the destruction of basic infrastructure, underscoring the vulnerability of the nation's physical assets to climate-related disasters.
Widespread Infrastructure Damage
The floods that began on August 26 in the Rasuwa district eventually spread to Nuwakot and Dhading, causing extensive damage to the energy and transport sectors. The disaster affected 8 operational power projects with a combined capacity of 281 MW, as well as 4 projects currently under construction with a capacity of 388 MW. Transportation was severely disrupted as large sections of the Galchhi-Betrawati-Rasuwagadhi road and the Prithvi Highway were broken or washed away, while Also, the infrastructure toll included damage to 48 suspension bridges and 31 motorable bridges across the affected regions.
International Cooperation and Environmental Concerns
Nepal's Prime Minister, Balen Shah, recently addressed these recurring disasters at the United Nations General Assembly, where he raised the issue of the increasing threats to the Himalayan region. He expressed his gratitude to India and China for their assistance following the devastating August floods. Prime Minister Shah pointed out that rising global temperatures are causing the permafrost in the mountains to melt, which weakens the structural integrity of the peaks. This environmental shift is leading to an increased frequency of rockfalls, ice avalanches, floods, and landslides, posing a continuous threat to the people of Nepal.