For residents of the Gorkha district in Nepal, the beginning of the destruction occurred on October 11. Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, the Chief District Officer, stated that initial information about the major flood was received at around 4:35 am. By the time authorities responded, a flash flood had already occurred in the Budhi Gandaki River.
The mechanism of the disaster was sudden. A landslide occurred between the areas of Lokpa and Chumling, creating a temporary blockade of the river's flow. This natural dam eventually broke through, resulting in a surge that transformed the river. Satellite imagery indicates a potential landslide in the area, which may have contributed to the flood.
Flash flooding in Nepal has swept away buildings along the Budhi Gandaki river on Sunday. Terrified onlookers in Gorkha district filmed from higher ground, after a landslide triggered downstream flooding that also swept away a bridge and homes. https://t.co/6rWzRbFxTA
The impact was observed in the Jagat area. Two suspension bridges and one steel bridge were destroyed, severing connectivity between several regions. The force of the Budhi Gandaki carried debris downstream.
Local authorities, led by Mishra, issued urgent warnings to these riverside settlements to relocate, recognizing that the risk of further flooding remained high.
The residential damage in Jagat included five to seven houses being swept away. For families in Jagat Bazaar, Sallery, Chumling, and Lokpa, the loss of shelter forced an evacuation to higher ground. Local authorities, led by Mishra, issued urgent warnings to these riverside settlements to relocate, recognizing that the risk of further flooding remained high.
ALERT - Nepal hit by flash floods again as raging waters sweep away several houses and damage infrastructure https://t.co/udkparJpFS
The Budhi Gandaki River basin was home to the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, a facility with a capacity of 341 megawatts, which saw its camp damaged by the surge.
The events of October 11 did not occur in a vacuum. The Budhi Gandaki flood followed a series of recent natural disasters in Nepal, including a significant flood event on August 26 near the Chinese border, which was linked to glacial collapse. The cumulative human cost of these floods is significant. Authorities report that floods have claimed 1,455 lives in Nepal to date.
Nepal Flash Flood 2026 😱 Budhi Gandaki River Swallows Salleri Bazaar | Gorkha Disaster A terrifying flash flood has devastated Salleri Bazaar in Nepal’s Gorkha district as the Budhi Gandaki River surged violently, sweeping away homes and damaging vital infrastructure. 🌊 📍 Location: Salleri Bazaar, Gorkha District, Nepal 📅 Date: October 11, 2026 🕓 Time: Around 4:00 AM local time According to local reports, a landslide blocked the river’s flow before the accumulated water suddenly surged downstream, carrying mud, debris and destruction. The flooding has also affected nearby settlements, including Jagat, with several bridges and homes damaged or swept away. Authorities have urged residents along the riverbanks to move to safer, higher ground as the flood threat continues downstream. The full extent of the damage and reports of missing people remain under assessment. This disaster is a chilling reminder of how quickly landslides and sudden river surges can devastate vulnerable Himalayan communities. Brahmins TV – Unbowed. Unafraid. #NepalFlood #FlashFlood #BudhiGandaki #Gorkha #BreakingNews
In the immediate aftermath of the surge, the focus of the Gorkha district shifted to rescue. Five people remained missing as of the initial reports, and search and rescue operations were ongoing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) activated its warning systems, issuing SMS alerts to residents in the affected zones to ensure those who had not yet fled could do so immediately. Aerial assessments were planned to map the extent of the destruction, from the collapsed bridges to the damaged campsites.
