Flash floods hit northern Nepal, evacuation of people along the Budhi Gandaki River

Residents along the Budhi Gandaki River in northern Nepal were evacuated today due to flash floods that destroyed houses and other structures in the area.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority evacuated some residents and warned others to move to safer locations and remain on alert until late today.

There are currently no reports of casualties.

The authority is trying to determine the cause of the flash floods in the Budhi Gandaki River, which flows into the Trishuli River and is a key waterway near the capital, Kathmandu.

Videos on social media show the swollen river flowing between high mountains, sweeping away houses and yards. It is not yet known how many small villages in this mountainous area have been affected by the floods.

Posts on social media indicate that the government’s warning prompted the evacuation from Arugat, a settlement located by the river on the road connecting Kathmandu with other parts of the country.

Nepal is still recovering from the catastrophic flood in August along the mountainous border between Nepal and China, in which more than 1,400 people died and thousands are listed as missing. The government last Monday declared the end of the search for the missing and announced that efforts will now focus on the reconstruction of the area.