Nepal Rescuers Reach Flood-Hit Villages, 5 Reported Missing

Rescuers from Nepal's military reached an area along the Budhi Gandaki River in north-central Nepal on Monday, a day after a flash flood caused by a landslide damaged bridges, hydropower construction sites, and dozens of homes and farms. Five people have been reported missing, but no fatalities have been confirmed so far.

The government stated that an early warning system enabled most residents to evacuate to higher ground before the floodwaters surged. Rescue helicopters and soldiers have begun delivering food and other relief materials to the affected villages and are evacuating residents and tourists.

So far, 95 people, including nine foreign nationals, have been transported to nearby towns, according to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The area is a popular destination for hikers, with October being one of the busiest months for tourism.

Trucks are delivering essential supplies like food, tents, and medicine to accessible areas, while army helicopters are airlifting aid to remote mountain villages. The Budhi Gandaki River is a significant waterway that flows into the Trishuli River near the capital, Kathmandu.

Videos circulating on social media depict houses and sheds being swept away by the powerful river current. The full extent of the impact on the small villages in the mountainous region remains unclear.

This event follows a devastating flood in August that struck the mountainous Nepal-China border region, resulting in over 1,400 deaths and thousands of missing persons. Search and rescue operations for that flood concluded on October 5, with efforts shifting towards infrastructure repair.