Budhigandaki Floods: “It’s No Longer Possible to Sleep Peacefully at Home”
Photo credit, Nepali Army
A sudden devastating flood in the Budhigandaki River has caused a new wave of anxiety among residents living along the lower banks.
A local representative from Arughat Bazaar in Gorkha district, which was affected by the flood that struck early Sunday morning, said the disaster has changed people’s perceptions about flooding.
Tek Bahadur Adhikari, chairman of Arughat Ward No. 3, stated, “Earlier, we thought floods only come when there’s heavy rainfall. But now it’s clear that for floods to happen, it doesn’t necessarily require heavy rain. Even when it hasn’t rained much, such floods can occur.”
“We have learned now that floods can come any time, whether in winter or monsoon, whenever the river bursts. That means people can’t sleep peacefully at home anymore.”
Adhikari further explained that downstream roads near Soti Bazaar in Arughat-3 have been obstructed by sediment and debris carried in by the Budhigandaki River, and authorities were working on clearing the roads through the evening. Efforts are underway to relocate nearly two dozen people from flood-affected homes to safer places.
According to Adhikari, these families will be temporarily sheltered in neighbors’ homes or school buildings.
What We Know About the Damage
Photo credit, NDRRMA
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that a massive landslide in Ward No. 6 of Chumanuwri Rural Municipality in Gorkha blocked the Budhigandaki River, leading to the flood.
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), analyzing the government’s preliminary data, estimated that the Budhigandaki River was temporarily dammed near Chumchet and that the flood began around 4 a.m. Officials warned that the large influx of mud, rocks, and sand poses increased risks along the lower corridor of the Budhigandaki, urging caution.
Confirmed human casualties have not been reported; however, initial data identifies Chumanuwri, the permanent home of Home Minister Sudhan Gurung, as among the hardest-hit areas.
Nima Lama, chairperson of the rural municipality, stated, “Our phone surveys confirm no human casualties so far, but five herders remain uncontactable near the landslide area, and about 100 goats and cows are missing.”
She added, “Two permanent bridges, one motorable bridge, and several suspension bridges have been washed away by the flood. Significant damage has occurred to houses and agricultural land in Jagatko Bagar. Salleri village is completely devastated, and about half the area in Ghattikhola is affected.”
Lama also confirmed some damage near the village of Home Minister Gurung.
Photo credit, RSS
Extent of Damage Caused by the Flood
Photo credit, Nepali Army
Netra Prasad Sharma, Assistant Chief District Officer of Gorkha, reported that 43 houses were washed away in Chumanuwri, displacing 159 people; in Dharche, 39 houses were damaged, displacing 126; and in Arughat, 64 houses suffered complete damage with 130 displaced.
He added that helicopter search and rescue operations were suspended due to late afternoon and authorities are now focusing on managing the affected populations.
Chairman Adhikari of Arughat-3 remarked that this flood, arriving just before the Dashain festival, has raised fresh concerns.
“The roads have been blocked in three places due to accumulated sediment. The river has eroded land, which small excavators cannot remove. We plan to bring a chain-operated dozer tomorrow to clear the area,” he said.
He also noted, “Restrictions on travel during Dashain will severely impact people. Two to four hundred workers from hydropower projects are returning home, and tourists are leaving out of fear.”
Officials reported that the flood washed away the main camp area and some construction equipment of the 341 megawatt Budhigandaki Hydropower Project in Salleri. Three hydropower projects and three vehicles were also damaged.
Electricity poles and telephone towers were damaged as well, and in several locations, the flood caused damage to pigpens.
Hundreds of people remain temporarily stranded on both sides of the river. Chairman Adhikari also stated that damaged bridges and sediment deposits have made access difficult.
“Sediment deposits of 500 to 600 meters have accumulated in various locations,” he added.
Photo credit, NDRRMA
Dramatic video footage of the flood has circulated on social media since early morning, showing the Budhigandaki River sweeping away infrastructure and a large cliff face.
The Budhigandaki flood has been widely compared to the catastrophic floods that struck the Bhote Koshi River around one and a half months ago, which claimed nearly 1,500 lives and left over 5,000 people missing.
ICIMOD noted that in April 2024, a large glacier landslide from Manaslu glacial lake triggered this sudden flood in the Budhigandaki River.
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