Flash Flood Destroys Homes and Leaves Five Missing in Central Nepal

A massive flash flood triggered by a landslide struck central Nepal on Sunday, sweeping away dozens of homes and leaving at least five people missing along the Budhi Gandaki River.

Destruction Along the Budhi Gandaki River

The disaster unfolded early Sunday morning after a landslide temporarily blocked the Budhi Gandaki River near the village of Chumchure. The resulting natural dam eventually burst, sending a roaring wall of water downstream. According to local reports, the torrent destroyed at least 36 houses and four bridges, while also damaging a hydroelectric power plant construction site and critical telecommunication infrastructure.

"The army continues to rescue trapped residents using helicopters and ground forces, with 49 people safely evacuated so far," the Nepalese army said in an official statement.

Evacuations and Ongoing Recovery

Thanks to early warnings issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, many residents managed to evacuate threatened villages such as Arughat ahead of the floodwaters. The latest disaster comes as Nepal continues to recover from a catastrophic flood in August along its Himalayan border with Tibet, which left thousands dead or missing and caused widespread infrastructural damage estimated at billions of dollars.