A major river in central Nepal has burst its banks, unleashing a powerful flash flood that swept away residential complexes, bridges, and damaged a local hydroelectric project in the Gorkha district. Authorities and military units confirmed that roughly fifty people have been successfully rescued from the banks of the Budhi Gandaki River, while at least five individuals remain unaccounted for as search and rescue operations continue.

The disaster struck just as local communities and children were preparing to observe Dashain, one of the most significant cultural festivals in the Nepalese calendar. Families have been forced into urgent displacement, facing severe uncertainty regarding safe shelter and access to essential supplies. Officials reported that the river's water level spiked dramatically from two meters to nearly 8.5 meters within a couple of hours, completely destroying a hydrological station and washing away construction equipment.

Experts are still investigating the precise trigger behind the sudden deluge, with preliminary theories pointing toward either an ice-avalanche or a landslide temporarily damming a tributary before bursting through. Humanitarian groups, such as Save the Children, are mobilizing emergency response teams to aid affected families who are still reeling from the catastrophic floods that struck the region earlier in the year.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk