Budhi Gandaki floods may have been triggered by breach of temporary landslide dam

KATHMANDU: Sunday morning’s flooding in the Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha may have been triggered by the breach of a temporary dam formed when a landslide blocked the river near Chumchet, according to an initial assessment by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

Reviewing preliminary information released by government agencies in Nepal, ICIMOD said the flood may have occurred after the temporary blockage created by the landslide collapsed.

According to ICIMOD, the flood is estimated to have started at around 4 am Nepal time on Sunday, October 11. It carried mud, sediment and other debris through riverside areas along the Budhi Gandaki.

Fluctuations in water levels prompted warnings for residents living near the Budhi Gandaki, Trishuli and Narayani river systems.

Preliminary reports indicate that several people are missing, houses have been swept away, bridges have been damaged and riverside infrastructure has been affected. The 341-megawatt Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project area in Salleri, Gorkha, has also sustained damage.