Severe flash floods have struck the Gorkha district in central Nepal, destroying residences, bridges, and damaging a hydropower facility. The Nepalese army confirmed that rescue teams have saved 95 individuals from the banks of the Budhi Gandaki River, including nine foreigners. While no fatalities have been reported so far, five people are still unaccounted for.
The disaster occurred just days before the start of Dashain, one of Nepal’s most significant festivals. Authorities report that over 200 homes were damaged and more than 650 residents were affected. Some remote settlements remain isolated and can only be reached by air, prompting the deployment of four military helicopters for search and rescue efforts.
Video footage captured the terrifying moment when torrents of water rushed through the valley, carrying away an entire building complex. Water levels at one monitoring point surged from two meters to nearly 8.5 meters within a few hours. A hydroelectric project was also hit, with construction equipment swept away by the force of the debris flow.
Residents who escaped described the speed and intensity of the event. Ganesh Karki, a resident of Jagatbagar, told reporters that he and neighbors sought refuge in a forest uphill after receiving an early morning warning. “The water surged for about 15 minutes and then stopped repeatedly throughout the morning,” Karki said. “We are afraid to return home at night.”
Meteorologist Binod Parajuli noted that a hydrological station was washed away, resulting in a loss of data from that location. Although the current debris flow is considered less devastating than the catastrophic floods in August—which killed over 1,400 people along the Tibet border—experts warn that climate change is accelerating glacier melt and increasing the frequency of such disasters.
Save the Children has mobilized an emergency response team. Director Tara Chettry highlighted the compounded trauma for local children, stating that families are still recovering from the previous month’s mega floods. “Children’s lives have been ripped apart in an instant yet again,” she said, noting that many are likely still in shock and lack access to essential supplies or safe shelter.
Are we really prepared for more climate-driven disasters? The infrastructure damage keeps mounting without long-term fixes.
Kids going through this twice in a month is devastating. Rescue groups need to focus on psychological support now.
Eight point five meters in hours? That is terrifyingly fast. How did anyone escape with that little warning?
Heartbreaking timing right before Dashain. Hope the missing five are found safely soon.