Nepal Hit by Fresh Flash Flood: Dozens of Homes and Bridges Swept Away in Gorkha, Five Missing, 82 Rescued
A fresh flash flood on the Budhi Gandaki River in central Nepal swept away dozens of houses and several bridges on Sunday, October 11, 2026, leaving at least five people missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). The flood struck Gorkha district weeks after the country's deadliest flooding in years.
What happened
Flood alerts were issued soon after authorities received reports of flooding at around 6 AM local time, dpa reported. NDRRMA chief Dharam Raj Uprety said a dry landslide blocked the river and then burst, causing the flood. NBC News reported that the landslide dammed the Budhi Gandaki near the village of Chumchure before the dam gave way.
Preliminary NDRRMA data cited by Kathmandu Post and RT lists two women and three men among the five missing. Gorkha's most senior official, Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, asked villagers along the downstream riverbanks to evacuate. Authorities also alerted people in Tanahun, Chitwan, East Nawalparasi and West Nawalparasi districts.
Damage and rescue
Reports differ on the scale of damage, which was still being assessed:
- Houses: Estimates range from about 35 to 40 (Kathmandu Post), about three dozen (NBC) to 45 (AFP).
- Bridges: At least four bridges were damaged or destroyed, including a highway bridge linking Gorkha and Dhading and suspension bridges, according to NDRRMA and AFP.
- Infrastructure: Hydropower project sites and a camp, two telecommunication towers and about 50 electricity poles were also damaged, per dpa.
- Rescue: Four Nepal Army helicopters and ground troops were deployed. The disaster agency said at least 82 people, including nine foreigners, have been rescued, while earlier counts ranged from 47 to 49.
Local official Laxmi Gurung of Chumnubri rural municipality described the flood as very scary and said her house was gone and the area had no electricity, though she said there had been no casualties in her area.
Context: Nepal's worst flood season
The new flood comes as Nepal recovers from the glacial collapse flooding of August 26, which, according to NDRRMA data cited in reports, killed more than 1,450 people, with about 5,700 still listed as missing as of late September. The Budhi Gandaki is a tributary of the Trishuli River, downstream from the area hit in August. The Kathmandu-based ICIMOD said the event highlights the range of hazards capable of generating destructive floods in Himalayan river systems.
What happens next
Search operations for the missing continue, along with efforts to reach stranded residents and restore roads and bridges cut off by the flood. Officials have not said whether more rain is expected.
Quick Facts
| What | Flash flood on the Budhi Gandaki River |
| Where | Gorkha district, central Nepal |
| When | Sunday, October 11, 2026 |
| Missing | At least five (two women, three men, per preliminary NDRRMA data) |
| Rescued | At least 82, including nine foreigners (earlier counts 47 to 49) |
| Houses swept away | About 35 to 45, per differing reports |
| Bridges damaged or destroyed | At least four |
| Cause | Landslide dam that burst (NDRRMA) |
| Earlier disaster | August 26 glacial collapse floods: over 1,450 dead, thousands missing |
This is a developing story based on reports from AFP, Al Jazeera, Japan Times, NBC News, dpa, Kathmandu Post and others as of October 12, 2026, and may be updated.