Military Helicopters Rush Relief to Flood-Battered Nepal as Five Still Missing

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s military rescue teams arrived Monday in a region devastated by flash flooding the day before.

Helicopters and infantry units delivered food and essential relief supplies to communities along the Budhi Gandaki River in north-central Nepal, while simultaneously beginning evacuation efforts for local residents and visitors.

Authorities report five individuals are still missing, though no deaths have been confirmed to date. Government officials stated that early warnings enabled the majority of the population to reach higher ground before the waters rose.

The Sunday deluge resulted from a landslide that temporarily dammed the river near the village of Chumchure before releasing a surge of water. The event damaged or destroyed five bridges, three hydropower construction sites, and numerous homes and farms.

Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority confirmed that 95 people, including nine foreigners, have been relocated to safer nearby towns.

The affected region contains trekking trails favored by hikers, with October marking one of the busiest periods for tourism.

Ground trucks are transporting food, tents, medical supplies, and other aid to areas accessible by road, while army helicopters continue to airdrop relief to isolated mountain villages.

The Budhi Gandaki River joins the Trishuli River and serves as a critical waterway close to the capital, Kathmandu.

Social media footage depicts homes and sheds being carried away by the swollen river flowing between steep mountains, though it remains unclear exactly how many of the area’s small villages were affected.

The country remains in recovery from a catastrophic flood earlier this August that swept through the mountainous Nepal-China border region, claiming more than 1,400 lives and leaving thousands unaccounted for.

The office of Prime Minister Balendra Shah declared an end to search and rescue operations on Oct. 5 as recovery priorities shifted toward infrastructure repair.

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