KATHMANDU, October 12, 2026 — A sudden flash flood has swept through settlements in central Nepal, destroying homes and bridges and leaving at least five people missing. Rescue teams are working in the affected areas as authorities warn communities downstream to move to safer locations.
The disaster struck the Chumnubri area of Gorkha district, about 100 kilometres west of Kathmandu, on Sunday, October 11. Officials believe a landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River before the accumulated water broke through the obstruction, unleashing a powerful surge downstream. The exact cause is still under investigation.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that two women and three men were missing. No deaths had been confirmed in the initial reports. At least 82 people, including nine foreign nationals, were rescued from the affected areas, according to officials.
The floodwaters carried away houses, suspension bridges and other infrastructure. A construction camp and equipment at the under-construction Budhi Gandaki hydropower project were also damaged. A road bridge linking Gorkha district with neighbouring Dhading was swept away by the muddy torrent, disrupting transport and access to affected communities.
Dharam Raj Uprety, chief executive of the NDRRMA, said emergency teams had been mobilised to assist with evacuations and rescue operations. Nepalese army and police personnel were deployed, while helicopters were used to monitor conditions and help move people away from dangerous areas.
Local authorities urged residents living along the riverbanks to evacuate as a precaution. Flood warnings were issued for vulnerable communities in Gorkha, Dhading, Tanahun, Chitwan, East Nawalparasi and West Nawalparasi districts, where rising water levels could pose further risks.
The Budhi Gandaki is a tributary of the Trishuli River. The latest disaster has renewed concerns in a country still recovering from a devastating flood in August, triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-China border. That catastrophe killed 1,457 people, while thousands were reported missing.
Nepal was also hit by severe floods and landslides in late September after heavy rainfall. The disasters killed at least 21 people, according to the national disaster agency.
The latest flooding underscores the continuing vulnerability of Nepal’s mountainous communities to landslides, sudden river surges and extreme weather. Authorities are continuing search operations, assessing damage and urging residents in high-risk areas to follow evacuation instructions.
