12 October,2026 10:48 AM IST | Kathmandu | mid-day online correspondent
The floodwaters swept through settlements along the riverbed, damaging roads, bridges and energy infrastructure across the affected region. Pic/PTI
At least 36 people, including one foreign national, have been rescued by the Nepal Army following flash floods along the Budhi Gandaki River basin in Nepal's Gorkha district, the army said.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said at least five people remained missing after a massive landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River between Lokpa and Chhumling on Sunday morning, triggering severe flooding that swept away homes and critical infrastructure.
According to the NDRRMA, the five missing people comprise two women and three men who were staying at a local sheep shed in the Ujjilud area of Chumnubri Rural Municipality-6 when the disaster struck.
The floodwaters swept through settlements along the riverbed, damaging roads, bridges and energy infrastructure across the affected region.
A section of the concrete bridge connecting Arughat in Gorkha district to Dhading was washed away. Several suspension bridges, including those connecting Nyakchetat to Sirdibas and the Machhikhola-Kerauja footbridge, were also destroyed. An iron-concrete bridge at Sotima was among the other structures damaged.
The flooding also caused extensive damage to the 381-megawatt Budhigandaki Project, washing away its main camp area and equipment.
Two telephone towers and 50 electricity poles were damaged. Floodwaters also inundated lower Machhikhola, placing around 20 to 22 homes at immediate risk.
The NDRRMA mobilised 437 security personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force to assist with rescue and relief operations.
Four Nepali Army helicopters were deployed to evacuate people from high-risk areas.
Authorities also dispatched a specialised team comprising geologists and personnel operating drones to investigate the cause of the landslide. Officials were examining the feasibility of installing emergency Bailey bridges to restore connectivity in the affected region.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Balen Shah said a Nepali Army contingent had been deployed by air and land to carry out search and rescue operations.
He added that helicopters had been mobilised to support evacuation, relief and rescue efforts. A Joint Rapid Response Team from Kathmandu was also airlifted to the affected area.
In a subsequent update, the Nepal Army said six people had been evacuated to safer locations. The affected region is around 184 kilometres from Kathmandu.
Home Minister Sudan Gurung warned of the risk of further flooding following the surge in the Budhi Gandaki River on Sunday morning. He said the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and local administration had been mobilised to assist with rescue and relief operations.
Gurung urged residents of Sirdibas, Jagat, Salleri, Khorlabesi, Machhakhola, Soti, Arkhet and Arughat, particularly those living along the riverbanks, to relocate to safer areas without delay.
Disaster management officials also advised residents to stay away from riverbeds, avoid damaged bridges and roads, and follow instructions issued by local security agencies.
(With inputs from ANI)
