A landslide in Chumchet, Chumanubri Rural Municipality-6 in Gorkha district, has triggered a debris-laden flood in the Budhi Gandaki River.
The flood began in the Bingilung River, flowed through the Syar River, and eventually merged into the Budhi Gandaki River. Bingilung and Syar are tributaries of the Budhi Gandaki.
The flood has damaged settlements, trekking trails, bridges, and other infrastructure along the Budhi Gandaki River.
So far, six bridges have been swept away, and at least 10 people are missing.
According to Assistant Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma, the flood swept away two motorable bridges and four suspension bridges.
A concrete bridge connecting Soti and Manbu in Tripura Sundari of Dhading and Arughat of Gorkha has been washed away.
Additionally, the Budhi Gandaki swept away a bridge located along the Mid-hill Highway in Arughat.
A Bailey bridge connecting Hulchowk in Ward 1 and Uhiya in Ward 3 of Dharche Rural Municipality has also been washed away. Similarly, a suspension bridge connecting Machhikhola in Ward 5 of Dharche with Kerauja has been destroyed.
A bridge connecting Thado Bharyang and Jagat in Chumanubri, as well as a suspension bridge connecting Ghatte Khola and Philim in Sirdibas, have also been swept away.
The flood has also destroyed around 35 houses in Paiyun and Bagar in Ward 3 of Chumanubri Rural Municipality. The villages of Jagat, Salleri, Dobhan, and Ghatte Khola have also sustained damage.
Locals said that the damage occurred as the Budhi Gandaki River was repeatedly blocked before suddenly surging with debris-laden floodwaters.
High flood risk in Benighat and Mugling
The flood risk has increased in the area stretching from Benighat to Mugling after the Budhi Gandaki River rose above the danger level.
Issuing a notice, the Flood Forecasting Division warned of an extremely high flood risk in the Benighat area and urged residents to move immediately to safer, higher ground.
Residents in riverside areas of Chitwan and Nawalparasi have also been urged to remain alert, as the flood risk there is moderate.
For flood-related information, the division said that people can visit the Nepal Flood Information Facebook page or call 1155 and select option 2.
