Villages evacuated as flash flood from Budhi Gandaki river hits northern Nepal

On Sunday, residents along the Budhi Gandaki River in north‑central Nepal were evacuated when flash flooding tore through the community, destroying homes and other structures.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority ordered the evacuation of villagers and advised those nearby to relocate to safer ground, urging continued vigilance until sundown.

Authorities have reported no immediate loss of life.

Agency officials are investigating the factors that triggered the flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki, a tributary of the Trishuli that flows near Kathmandu.

Social media footage shows houses and outbuildings being swept away by the raging river as it surges between steep mountains, though exact village impacts remain unclear. Online postings note that the emergency alert led to an evacuation from Arughat, a riverside settlement on the highway linking Kathmandu to the rest of the nation.

The country continues to recover from an August flood along the Nepal–China border that claimed over 1,400 lives and left thousands missing.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah declared an end to ongoing search‑and‑rescue efforts on Monday, redirecting focus toward reconstruction—restoring blocked roads and bridges, especially in remote districts that now face hazardous conditions for delivery teams.

The government projects the reconstruction cost at US$4.77 billion, affecting nearly 33,000 individuals and totaling roughly 7,500 homes damaged or destroyed.

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