New Delhi: A debris-laden flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki River swept away more than 35 houses and bridges and damaged a hydropower project in Nepal’s Gorkha district early Sunday, prompting authorities to evacuate riverside residents as rescue operations continued. The Nepali Army has deployed personnel by air and land, while helicopters have been used to rescue people, distribute relief and evacuate residents from vulnerable areas.

The flood struck around 4 am in Chumnubri Rural Municipality in Gandaki Province, forcing residents to flee to safer locations. Authorities have urged people living along the river to remain alert and move to higher ground as the water level continues to rise. Netra Prasad Sharma, Assistant Chief District Officer at the Gorkha District Administration Office, said preliminary reports indicated that around three dozen houses had been swept away in Chumnubri Rural Municipality.

According to Ram Kumar Gurung, ward chair of Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3, the flood swept away houses in Salleri, Paiyuka and the riverbed area of Jagat. It also destroyed a suspension bridge connecting the ward. Gorkha Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra confirmed that no casualties had been reported so far.

Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah stated on social media that the Nepali Army had deployed a contingent through air and land routes for search and rescue operations following the flood, noting that several individuals had been airlifted from the vulnerable Jagat area. Home Minister Sudan Gurung added that the flood had also destroyed the bridge connecting Nyakchet and Philim bazaar, while Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force mobilized alongside local authorities.

Local officials noted that the sudden disaster caused significant damage to the market in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3. Residents reported hearing loud roaring sounds from nearby streams around 4 am, causing tourists and locals to flee without their belongings. Authorities have not yet established what triggered the sudden surge, as there was no recent rainfall in the area, leading locals to suspect a blockage in a tributary stream.

Officials and residents noted that the sudden event revived concerns of past disaster events in the country as rescue teams continued their work and authorities assessed the full scale of the destruction.