Nepal’s latest flash floods have left five people missing and entire communities facing the aftermath of destruction, as rescue teams search through affected areas of Gorkha District. Homes have been swept away, bridges damaged and families forced to flee as authorities race to locate those still unaccounted for.
The disaster struck along the Budhi Gandaki River on Sunday (11). By Monday (12), authorities were continuing search and rescue operations in Chumnubri Rural Municipality, where the Nepali Army had rescued 95 people from flood-affected areas.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said five people, including two women, remained missing.
Rescuers race to reach stranded residents
Rescue teams have been working across remote settlements, using helicopters and ground operations to reach people cut off by the flooding.
Three people stranded at Dhaulibhir, near the Ungilung River in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-6, were rescued by a Nepali Army helicopter on Sunday evening. They had become trapped after a landslide struck near their cattle shed that morning.
“They had a cattle shed there and became trapped after a landslide suddenly struck on Sunday morning,” said Narayan Sapkota, chief administrative officer of Chumnubri Rural Municipality. “They were airlifted to Philim.”
By Sunday evening, 95 people had been rescued using four helicopters, including an MI-17, alongside ground-based rescue teams, according to the Rising Nepal daily.
Those rescued came from several settlements, including Jagat, Yaru, Thulodhunga, Dobhan, Philim, Nyakphedi, Payu, Namrung, Deng and Dhauli.
But with five people still missing, the search continues as authorities work to establish the full extent of the disaster.
Homes, bridges and livelihoods swept away
The flooding has damaged critical infrastructure and left residents facing the loss of homes and livelihoods.
According to the NDRRMA, 45 houses were completely destroyed and another 27 suffered partial damage. Two suspension bridges and two motorable bridges were damaged, disrupting connections between communities. Three hydropower projects and 34 cattle sheds were also affected, while three vehicles were swept away.
More than 700 security personnel, including 171 Nepal Army soldiers, have been mobilized for rescue and relief operations.
Authorities have delivered tents, blankets, mattresses, sleeping bags and kitchen sets to affected areas. These supplies are intended to support residents who have lost shelter and basic household necessities.
Another disaster raises fears across the Himalayas
The Gorkha flooding comes less than two months after the August 26 Bhotekoshi disaster, when a sudden surge of water and debris swept through settlements in Rasuwa and Sindhupalchok, killing hundreds and leaving thousands missing, according to the report.
The back-to-back disasters have renewed concerns about communities living along Himalayan river corridors. Landslides can block streams, creating temporary barriers that may release destructive torrents when they collapse.
Nepal’s mountainous terrain and unpredictable conditions make communities vulnerable to floods and landslides, particularly during periods of heavy rain.
For families in Gorkha, the immediate concern remains finding the five people still missing and helping those whose homes and belongings have been destroyed. As rescue operations continue, many residents face an uncertain recovery after a disaster that has left their communities damaged and their lives disrupted.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke addresses supporters during a protest demanding the resignation of India's chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-roll irregularities in Mumbai on October 2, 2026. Indian protesters rallied in New Delhi and Mumbai on October 2, including members of the popular youth-led "cockroach" party, demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner over alleged voter-roll irregularities.Getty Images
