Flash Flood in Nepal’s Budhi Gandaki River Sweeps Away Dozens of Houses

October 11, 2026

Kathmandu: A massive flash flood in Nepal’s Budhi Gandaki River swept away dozens of houses, suspension bridges and other infrastructure in the country’s western Gorkha district, triggering concern among residents living along the river. No casualties had been reported as of Sunday morning, October 11, according to a senior district official.

Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, chief district officer at the District Administration Office in Gorkha, said several houses along the Budhi Gandaki River, which flows through Chumnubri Rural Municipality near the China border, had been affected by the flooding.

“We are collecting details about the damage caused by the floods,” Mishra said. He added that houses in Jagat and Salleri villages, along with the camp of the 341-MW Budhi Hydroelectric Project, had been swept away by the floodwaters.

Houses, Bridges and Hydropower Project Affected

According to local media reports, the flash flood washed away houses, suspension bridges and a steel bridge. The construction site of a hydropower project was also damaged, although the full extent of the destruction remains unclear.

Initial estimates suggest that the flooding may have been triggered by a landslide between Lokpa and Chumling in Ward No. 6 of Chumnubri Rural Municipality. The landslide may have blocked the Syar Khola, a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki River, potentially contributing to the sudden rise in water levels.

However, the possible link between the landslide and the flooding has not been confirmed. Authorities are continuing to assess the situation, and the exact cause of the flash flood remains unknown.

Flood Reminiscent of August Disaster

Laxmi Gurung, vice-chairperson of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, said the latest flooding resembled the devastating incident involving the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal’s Rasuwa district on August 26.

“The Budhi Gandaki flood is reminiscent of the Bhotekoshi flood. Dozens of houses have been swept away. It is too early to determine the exact extent of the damage,” Gurung told the local news portal Onlinekhabar.

The comparison has raised concerns about the impact of sudden flooding in Nepal’s mountainous river valleys, where landslides and other natural hazards can disrupt communities and infrastructure.

Authorities Issue Safety Warning

Meanwhile, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) urged people living along the Budhi Gandaki River to move to safer locations after warning that the water level had risen above the danger mark.

Authorities are gathering information about the damage, while the number of affected houses and the overall impact on local infrastructure are yet to be fully established.

The latest incident comes more than a month after devastating floods in the Rasuwa and Trishuli river areas. According to the NDRRMA, those floods claimed 1,455 lives, while 5,285 people remained missing.

Officials have yet to confirm the precise cause of the Budhi Gandaki flooding or determine the full extent of the damage.