A sudden flood in Nepal’s Budhi Gandaki river in Gorkha district may have been caused by a landslide that temporarily blocked the river before giving way, according to a preliminary assessment by the Nepal Army. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the incident.
The Army’s initial findings suggest that the landslide may have obstructed river’s flow, allowing water to build up before rushing downstream with soil, rocks and other debris. However, the actual source and cause of the flood have not yet been confirmed.
The Nepal Army said its No.3 Brigade Headquarters received information at 5.55 am on Sunday that the river’s flow had stopped. A reconnaissance team was dispatched from the Bangsing security post at around 6.15 am. The team later confirmed a dry landslide in the Filim area of Chumnubri Rural Municipality.
Following an aerial survey, the Army made its preliminary assessment. A team equipped with drones has also been sent to the upper reaches of the river to gather more information.
Flood Compared to Earlier Nepal Disaster
Dr Dharma Raj Upreti, executive chief of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said the flood appeared similar to the disaster in the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi region on August 26.
That earlier flood was attributed to the displacement of a large section of a glacier in Tibet. However, authorities have not established whether a similar process caused the latest incident.
Hydropower Project and Houses Damaged
The flood caused damage to infrastructure in Gorkha district. Preliminary information from the Nepal Army indicated that the powerhouse of the under-construction Budhi Gandaki hydropower project at Salleri in Dharche Rural Municipality was swept away.
Initial reports suggested that eight to ten houses may also have been washed away. Other reports said one temporary house was swept away, floodwater entered eight houses and temporary shelters, and another 22 houses were at risk.
The damage figures remain preliminary, and authorities are continuing their assessment. Investigators are examining the upper reaches of the Budhi Gandaki river to determine what triggered the sudden surge and establish the full extent of the damage.
