Nepal flash floods leave 10 missing, destroy over 35 homes

Kathmandu — Flash floods triggered by debris in the Budhi Gandaki river devastated Nepal’s northern Gorkha district on Sunday morning, leaving at least 10 people missing and destroying more than 35 houses.
Officials said the floods completely destroyed more than 35 homes in settlements including Pyu, Bagar, Sliri and Ghate Khola, along with three concrete bridges, four suspension bridges and an under-construction hydropower project. Hundreds of frightened villagers were forced to flee to higher ground for safety.
Gorkha Assistant Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma said the floods completely destroyed concrete bridges connecting Aarughat, Tripurasundari and Soti-Manbu. The Beli bridge linking Wards 1 and 3 of Dharche Rural Municipality, along with four suspension bridges, were also swept away.
Chum Nubri Rural Municipality Chairman Nima Lama and police officials said more than 35 homes in the Pyu and Bagar areas of Chum Nubri-3 were washed away. Settlements in Jagat, Sliri, Dubhan and Ghate Khola also suffered severe damage, while a landslide in Churi destroyed five livestock sheds.
Local media reported that the disaster may have been caused by the sudden breach of a temporary lake formed in the Syarul Khola, a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki, following a landslide. Gorkha district authorities and police are searching for the missing and carrying out relief operations, while a full assessment of the damage is under way.