The flood caused by a sudden rise in the water level of the Budhi Gandaki River in Nepal swept away several homes in the Gorkha region on Sunday morning. This incident prompted local officials to issue warnings and evacuation orders for residents living along the riverbank.
Cause of the Water Level Rise
Officials have yet to determine the cause of the water level rise, which was accompanied by mud. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) issued a warning to residents along the river on Sunday morning, alerting them to the possibility of flooding. The warning stated: "On October 11, at 06:40, a major flood is coming from the Budhi Gandaki River in the rural municipality of Chumanubri 6, so do not approach the river until the flood passes and stay in elevated places."
Impact of the Flood and Current Situation
According to Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, the head of the Gorkha district office, initial reports indicate that landslides occurred above Siuribas in the rural municipality of Chumanubri. He stated: "Reports indicate that five to seven homes in the riverbed in Jagat have been swept away, and several other houses downstream have met the same fate. We are in the process of gathering more information from the field." So far, there have been no reports of human casualties.
Local officials in the area also reported that the water level of the river rose sharply early Sunday morning, and a loud sound from the flowing water was heard. Narayan Sapkota, the head of the administrative office of Chumanubri, stated: "The water level rose sharply from 4 AM, and the sound of the flowing water was very loud. We suspect that there may have been a blockage in the river flow at Chikampur, and the dam created after the landslide may have broken."
Residents in riverbank areas, including Chumling and Lukpa, left their homes due to the rising water level. The regional police office in Arughat also issued safety warnings, and officials used loudspeakers to alert residents along the riverbank, urging them to move to safer locations.
