Mass Evacuations Ordered as Budhi Gandaki River Swells and Sweeps Away Villages

On Sunday, a sudden surge of the Budhi Gandaki River turned parts of central Nepal into a raging torrent. It all began when a dry landslide slammed into the village of Chumnubri in Gorkha district, damming the river and allowing water to pile up behind it. When the natural barrier gave way, a wall of water, mud and debris rushed downstream, swallowing everything in its path.

Authorities quickly sounded the alarm. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) issued emergency alerts for five districts – Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, East Nawalparasi and West Nawalparasi – urging residents living along the riverbanks to evacuate immediately. In the riverside community of Arughat, which lies on the main highway that links Kathmandu to the western hills, families packed what they could and fled to higher ground.

By the time the water receded, the damage was stark. Roughly a dozen homes were swept away, along with two suspension bridges that connect remote mountain settlements. A highway bridge that links Gorkha with neighbouring Dhading district – a critical lifeline for trade and travel – collapsed under the force of the flood. Videos circulating on social media showed houses and outbuildings tumbling into the swollen river as it roared through steep valleys.

Even a small hydropower camp was not spared. The site, which housed 18 workers, was inundated, but thankfully all the laborers escaped unharmed before the waters engulfed the camp. Prime Minister Balendra Shah praised the swift action of the Nepal Army, which rescued six villagers from Jagat village, who were on the brink of being cut off by the landslide.

“We have asked everyone living downstream of the river to move to safety and stay put until the water level drops,” said Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, the senior bureaucrat for Gorkha district. So far, no deaths have been reported, though rescue teams remain on standby as the river continues to rise in some sections.

This disaster revives painful memories of August, when a massive glacier collapse in the same basin triggered floods that claimed at least 1,457 lives and left thousands missing. The Budhi Gandaki eventually joins the Trishuli River, a reminder that the whole watershed remains vulnerable.

In the wake of the flood, the government has shifted focus to recovery. Officials estimate that rebuilding roads, bridges and homes will cost around $4.77 billion, affecting roughly 33,000 residents and destroying or damaging about 7,500 houses. Reconstruction efforts are expected to be long‑running, with priority given to restoring the critical highway connections that keep remote communities linked to the rest of the country.

While the immediate crisis seems under control, the incident underscores the growing threat of climate‑induced landslides and flash floods in the Himalayas. Communities, officials and aid agencies are now wrestling with the twin challenges of rebuilding what was lost and bolstering defenses against future surges.