Nepal, October 11 (Daily Kiran) : Nepal’s flood forecasting department has issued a significant flood warning early Sunday morning, highlighting the potential for severe flooding in the Budhi Gandaki River. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority urged residents to avoid riverbanks and seek higher ground.
In a post shared on the social media platform X, the authority stated, “Severe flooding is occurring in the Budhi Gandaki River near Chumanuwami Rural Municipality-6. Therefore, do not approach the river until the flood has passed. Stay in elevated areas.”
According to the authority, the river’s water level could rise dangerously due to strong currents. This poses a serious threat to those living near the river and in low-lying areas. The agency emphasized the urgency for residents to move to higher and safer locations promptly, although no specific timeline for the flooding has been provided.
Nepal has previously faced devastating sudden floods, with a catastrophic event occurring on August 26, where thousands lost their lives. This disaster was triggered when a landslide blocked the flow of the Lhende River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River, initially affecting the Timure village in the Rasuwagadhi area near the Nepal-China border.
Reports indicate that the region had not experienced rainfall, leaving residents unaware of the impending disaster. Many were engaged in daily activities when the flood struck.
The August 26 disaster resulted in an estimated economic loss of approximately $1.66 billion in physical assets. According to a World Bank report, 83 percent of this loss was related to infrastructure. The World Bank’s estimates align closely with the Nepalese government’s initial Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), which reported damages around $1.81 billion.
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