Nepal Urges Evacuations After Landslide Triggers Flooding

Nepali authorities have urged villagers to move to safer places after a river that flooded in the central part of the ‌country swept away several houses and infrastructure. There were no reports of any casualties.

The national disaster authority said two women and three men were out of contact; the army said a further 49 people, including a foreigner, had been rescued. However, the person’s nationality wasn’t disclosed.

According to reports, authorities said a landslide in Chumnubri ⁠village in Gorkha district, about 100 km (62 miles) west of Kathmandu, blocked the Budhi Gandaki River, which led to downstream flooding.

The Budhi Gandaki is a tributary of the Trishuli River, downstream from another tributary where a glacier collapse caused a catastrophic flood in August that killed 1,457 people, with thousands still missing.

The Gorkha district’s most senior bureaucrat, Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, said in a statement, “We have asked villagers living along the riverbanks downstream to evacuate and remain safe.”

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The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the flood swept away about a ‌dozen ⁠houses and two suspension bridges and damaged a hydroelectric project camp, carrying some of the construction equipment away.

Chief of the Authority, Dharam Raj Uprety, said the flooded river carrying muddy sludge was rising and had washed away a highway bridge connecting Gorkha with the neighbouring Dhading district.

National disaster authorities have alerted people living along the river in the Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, East Nawalparasi and West Nawalparasi districts about the flood.

“Please ⁠help ensure that people in at-risk areas are moved to safe locations in time and assist search and rescue operations as needed,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction ⁠and Management Authority said in a social media post.

Reports say army and police rescue personnel had reached the area and were also monitoring the situation from a helicopter.