Local alerts precede official landslide report in Budhigandaki flash flood

Early Sunday morning, a driver named Suna Gurung posted a flood alert on Facebook at 4:59 am after an acquaintance warned him of a landslide at 4:45 am. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority later documented the landslide at 5:30 am on Shringi Himal, which blocked the Wingilung stream and the Budhigandaki River, unleashing a flash flood. Police helped evacuate locals and employees of Times Energy Pvt Ltd, while the Nepali Army deployed four helicopters, rescuing 95 people, including nine foreigners.

SMS messages were sent to over 200,000 responders across several districts, and water levels at the Arughat gauging station rose sharply, exceeding danger thresholds. By midday, more than 700 security personnel were on the ground, and medical teams were placed on standby as damage assessments and road access investigations proceeded.