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Destructive Flash Flood Hits Nepal’s Budhi Gandaki River Following Landslide-Dam Breach

A sudden, high-velocity flash flood swept through the Budhi Gandaki river corridor in Nepal’s northern Gorkha district early Sunday, October 11, 2026, destroying dozens of homes and critical infrastructure while leaving at least five people missing.

Nilakshi Barman | | 3 min read

Destructive Flash Flood Hits Nepal’s Budhi Gandaki River Following Landslide-Dam Breach
Damage caused by the flood that came into the Budhi Gandaki River on Sunday morning from the direction of the Ungilung Stream located in Chumanubri Rural Municipality-6 of northern Gorkha | Image courtesy: RSS

In Brief

  1. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) reported that the flash flood was likely triggered by the sudden breach of a temporary landslide-induced dam near Chumchet.
  2. The surge swept away between 35 and 45 homes, several suspension and motorable bridges, and damaged local hydropower facilities along the river corridor.
  3. The Nepal Army and local police rescued approximately 50 to 80 stranded residents, while emergency search-and-rescue teams continue looking for at least five missing individuals.

Emergency response teams and the Nepal Army launched widespread rescue operations in Nepal's northern Gorkha district after a catastrophic flash flood swept down the Budhi Gandaki River basin early Sunday morning, October 11, 2026.

According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), preliminary assessments indicate the flood was triggered around 4:00 AM local time when a temporary natural dam created by a landslide near Chumchet collapsed, sending a massive wall of mud, water, and debris rushing downstream.

The deluge caused extensive damage across the Chumnubri Rural Municipality. Local officials confirmed that between 35 and 45 homes were completely destroyed, while dozens of others suffered structural damage. The torrent also washed away at least four suspension and motorable bridges, cutting off transport links and leaving foreign tourists stranded along the popular Manaslu trekking route. Infrastructure at local hydroelectric projects was also damaged as floodwaters surged through the valley.

"In the morning, an alert was issued to us," said Kamala Duwadi, a resident of Arughat in Gorkha district. "I came out hearing the police making public announcements for evacuation around 4:30 AM... we quickly moved out to higher ground up in the hills."

Personnel from the Nepal Army and Armed Police Force were deployed to conduct aerial and ground rescues. Security forces have evacuated approximately 50 to 80 individuals from high-risk locations to temporary relief shelters, while search efforts remain active for at least five residents reported missing.

Disaster management authorities have issued flood warnings for downstream settlements along the Budhi Gandaki, Trishuli, and Narayani river systems, urging residents to stay away from riverbanks as water levels fluctuate. Engineering teams are conducting detailed damage assessments to clear blocked roads and restore emergency communication links.

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