Residents of Gorkha flee as sudden river surge floods villages and hydropower site

In Gorkha, Nepal, a sudden flood forced residents to abandon their houses and seek refuge on a hillside about half a kilometre away after a frantic phone warning. Throughout the night and into dawn, the Budhi Gandaki river released powerful surges, each accompanied by a loud rumble that lasted roughly fifteen minutes before receding. The water overflowed into the construction site of a hydropower project in Salleri and climbed up to the perimeter of the village of Jagat.

Families contacted relatives in nearby areas such as Machhakhola and Arughat to learn about the situation. As of the report, the displaced people are staying uphill, surviving on beaten rice and instant noodles while remaining anxious about the river's next move.