Floods sweep homes, bridges in Nepal as rains worsen

GORKHA DISTRICT, NEPAL, 13 OCTOBER 2026 —

Nepal’s Gorkha district reels from fresh floods as Budhi Gandaki River surges, sweeping away homes, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure amid ongoing recovery from August’s deadly deluge

The disaster struck just days before the start of the Dashain festival, Nepal’s most important cultural celebration, as authorities scrambled to mobilise rescue operations with four military helicopters amid fears of further destruction.

The latest floods come less than two months after Nepal’s deadliest natural disaster in decades, when flash floods triggered by an ice and rock avalanche near Mount Lantang Lirung killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing along the Nepal-Tibet border.

The Budhi Gandaki, a tributary of the Trishuli River, lies downstream from the August avalanche site, raising concerns among experts that the current flooding may have been triggered by a similar glacial or landslide event. Binod Parajuli, a government meteorologist, confirmed that a hydrological monitoring station was swept away, leaving officials without critical data on river levels.

Within hours, water levels at one location rose from 2 metres (6ft 5in) to nearly 8.5 metres (27ft 9in), according to disaster management authorities.

Rescue efforts have so far saved 95 people, including nine foreigners, though no fatalities have been reported. The Nepal Army deployed helicopters to airlift stranded families from isolated settlements now accessible only by air, while residents described scenes of devastation.

Ganesh Karki, a resident of Jagatbagar, told The Kathmandu Post that he and others fled uphill after receiving an early-morning warning, sheltering in a nearby forest as the river surged for 15 minutes before receding intermittently. "We never imagined a flood of this size," he said. "The water surged for about 15 minutes and then stopped repeatedly throughout the morning.

We are afraid to return home at night." The disaster management authority later confirmed that the flood had destroyed a dozen homes, multiple bridges, and damaged a hydroelectric project, carrying away construction equipment.

The scale of destruction has left communities in Gorkha—already traumatised by the August floods—facing a humanitarian crisis. Save the Children, which is deploying an emergency response team, warned that children in the affected areas may have lost homes, schools, and entire communities. "Children’s lives have been ripped apart in an instant yet again," said Tara Chettry, the charity’s director in Nepal. "They may have lost their homes, schools and communities.

Many children in Gorkha will still be in shock and distress after the mega floods in August, barely having a chance to get back on their feet." Local officials reported that some villages remain cut off, with families struggling to access food, clean water, and medical supplies.

While the immediate cause of Sunday’s flood remains unclear, experts speculate that a landslide or glacial dam burst may have triggered the surge. Unlike the rapid, devastating flash floods of August—which killed hundreds in hours—the current debris flow moved more slowly, though its impact was still severe. Climate change, which has accelerated glacial melt in the Himalayas, is widely seen as increasing the frequency and intensity of such disasters.

Nepal’s vulnerability to earthquakes, landslides, and floods is compounded by its mountainous terrain, where unstable glaciers and unpredictable weather patterns pose constant risks.

For Nepal’s economy, the repeated disasters pose a double threat: immediate humanitarian costs and long-term infrastructure damage. The destruction of hydropower projects—critical for Nepal’s energy exports to India—could disrupt power generation, while damaged roads and bridges will hinder recovery efforts. The government has yet to provide a full assessment of economic losses, but the August floods alone were estimated to have caused over $1 billion in damages, according to preliminary reports.

With monsoon season now ending, officials are bracing for potential aftershocks, including landslides in the coming weeks.

As rescue and relief operations continue, Nepal’s disaster management authorities are urging residents in high-risk areas to remain vigilant. The Nepal Army’s helicopter deployments are expected to continue until all stranded families are evacuated, while international aid groups prepare to scale up support. The government has not yet declared a national emergency, but local officials in Gorkha have requested additional resources, including medical supplies and temporary shelters.

With Dashain celebrations underway, many displaced families face an uncertain future, their homes and livelihoods destroyed within months of the last catastrophe. The latest floods serve as a stark reminder of Nepal’s fragile resilience in the face of climate-driven disasters.