Authorities Assess Damage After Gorkha’s Old Gandaki River Flooding

Gorkha district officials are conducting a comprehensive damage assessment after the Old Gandaki River overflowed its banks on Sunday. The flood, which struck the Chumnubri Rural Municipality, caused the collapse of a steel bridge, washed away dozens of homes, and inundated the construction site of the Old Gandaki Hydropower Project.

District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra reported that relief teams are currently surveying the affected villages of Jagat and Saleri. Early estimates suggest significant structural loss, including the destruction of a traditional swing bridge and damage to the 341‑megawatt hydropower camp, which now faces a delay in its planned completion.

Preliminary investigations point to a landslide between Lokpa and Chumling that may have obstructed the flow of the tributary Syar Khola, exacerbating the river's surge. However, officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause, and further geological surveys are underway.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has issued a high‑alert status for the river, urging residents to relocate and preparing additional rescue resources. The incident comes shortly after a massive flood in the Rasuwa and Trishuli valleys, highlighting the growing vulnerability of Nepal's riverine communities.