Nepal is grappling with fresh floods that have swept away homes and bridges in the central Gorkha district, authorities reported on Sunday. The Budhi Gandaki River surged, prompting the rescue of around 50 people from its banks, while five individuals remain missing.
The floodwaters, which rose dramatically from 2 meters to nearly 8.5 meters within hours, have caused significant damage, including to a part of a hydropower station. Video footage captured the force of the flood as it tore through a valley, demolishing an entire building complex. This disaster strikes as Nepal is still recovering from catastrophic floods two months ago that resulted in over 1,400 deaths and thousands missing.
The timing of the flood coincided with the start of the Dashain festival, a significant event in the Nepali calendar, leaving families displaced and in search of safe shelter and essential supplies. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority confirmed that about a dozen houses and several suspension bridges were swept away, and construction equipment from the hydroelectric project was lost.
While the exact cause of the flood remains unclear, some speculate that a landslide may have temporarily blocked the river or its tributary, leading to a sudden release of water. Others suggest that an ice-avalanche was witnessed upstream. Despite the uncertainty, experts note that the debris-flow was smaller and slower than the devastating flash floods in August.
Binod Parajuli, a government meteorologist, highlighted the challenges in monitoring the situation, stating, "Our hydrological station was swept away and we are not getting any data from that location." This lack of data complicates efforts to assess and respond to the ongoing crisis.
Humanitarian Response
In response to the disaster, Save the Children has mobilized an emergency team to assist those affected. Tara Chettry, the charity's director in Nepal, expressed concern over the impact on children, saying, "Children's lives have been ripped apart in an instant yet again." She emphasized that many children in Gorkha are still reeling from the August floods and may have lost their homes, schools, and communities once more.
The Budhi Gandaki River, a tributary of the Trishuli River, is downstream from where a glacier collapse caused the previous disaster. The ongoing floods have left many Nepalis in a state of uncertainty, as those swept away in the floods are not officially declared dead, leaving families in limbo.
