Nepal flash flood: landslide dam burst on Budhi Gandaki, 5 missing as helicopters rush in

KATHMANDU, Nepal — A flash flood swept the Budhi Gandaki River in north central Nepal on Sunday after a landslide dammed and then breached the river. Military rescuers reached the stricken area on Monday, with helicopters and ground troops delivering food, tents and medicine and evacuating residents and tourists. Five people are reported missing; no fatalities have been reported so far.

Landslide blocked the river, then the dam burst

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the flood began when a landslide near the village of Chumchure blocked the river, forming a natural dam. When the dam burst, the surge tore downstream. Videos on social media show houses and sheds being swept away by the swollen river flowing between tall mountains. Officials say early warnings allowed most people to reach higher ground before the flood arrived.

Bridges and power towers destroyed, tourists evacuated

The flood damaged or destroyed four to five bridges, the construction sites of three hydropower plants, and dozens of houses and farms, along with several power and communication towers along the river. The Nepal Army said it had rescued 49 people by Sunday afternoon; the disaster authority said 95 people, including nine foreigners, have been evacuated to nearby towns. Trucks are carrying supplies to areas reachable by road, while army helicopters are ferrying aid to remote mountain villages cut off from ground access.

The Budhi Gandaki merges into the Trishuli River and is a key waterway near Kathmandu. The flood zone includes trekking routes popular with hikers, and October is one of the busiest months of the trekking season. Social media posts indicate the government warning prompted evacuations in Arughat, a riverside town on the highway connecting Kathmandu to other parts of the country.

Fresh scars from August's deadly flood

Nepal is still recovering from a devastating flood that swept the mountainous Nepal-China border in August, leaving more than 1,400 people dead and thousands more missing. Prime Minister Balendra Shah announced on Oct. 5 that search and rescue operations for that disaster had ended, shifting to recovery. The government estimates rebuilding will cost $4.77 billion, with nearly 33,000 people affected and about 7,500 homes damaged or destroyed.

The full extent of Sunday's damage in the Budhi Gandaki valley is still being assessed, with authorities saying it is not yet clear how many of the mountainous area's small villages were hit.

Rescue continues, scope still being assessed

Nepal's military said the search for stranded people continued on Monday, using helicopters and ground troops. Trucks are moving food, tents and medicine to areas reachable by road, while helicopters are airlifting supplies to remote mountain villages. The government warning also prompted evacuations in Arughat, a riverside town on the highway connecting Kathmandu to other parts of the country.

The Budhi Gandaki merges into the Trishuli River, a key waterway near the capital. Rescuers say the priorities in the coming days are accounting for the five missing people and watching for renewed landslide activity upstream.