Budhi Gandaki Flood Rescue: Nepal Army Reports 36 Rescued; Missing Persons Under Active Investigation

Search and rescue operations intensified across northern Gorkha on Sunday after an early-morning flash flood along the Budhi Gandaki river cut off suspension bridges, destroyed trail networks, and isolated riverside settlements.

1. Latest Attributed Rescue Development: 36 Evacuated

According to statements from the Nepal Army Directorate of Public Relations and Information, reported by Onlinekhabar, military rescue operations deployed four helicopters alongside ground personnel to extract individuals stranded by floodwaters and secondary landslides in northern Gorkha.

The cumulative total of 36 rescued individuals includes four operational sectors:

• Jagat (Chumnubri Ward 3): 6 people airlifted in the morning after being cut off by riverbank landslides.
• Nyakphedi: 9 people brought to safety by responding rescue units.
• Yaru: 9 people evacuated, including one infant and one foreign trekker.
• Paiyu: 12 people evacuated from flood-threatened river terrace areas.

The military noted that the six individuals airlifted from Jagat earlier in the day are part of the cumulative count of 36, rather than an additional group.

2. Missing-Person Status and Field Uncertainties

Reports regarding unaccounted-for individuals vary depending on location and reporting time. According to reporting by The Kathmandu Post citing Chumnubri Chief Administrative Officer Narayan Prasad Sapkota and local ward representatives, two distinct groups were reported out of contact:

• Ungilung Stream Area (Chumnubri-6, Chumchet): Four to five individuals staying at an animal shed near the river confluence were reported missing after the structure and livestock were washed away.
• Sirdibas to Chumling Trail: A separate group of four to five herders was reported out of contact along walking routes between Sirdibas and Chumling after communications were cut.

Because phone lines in upper Chumnubri remain disrupted and pedestrian bridges have collapsed, authorities emphasize that these accounts reflect preliminary local reports. As of Sunday evening, no fatalities have been confirmed by Gorkha District Police or the District Administration Office.

3. Evacuation and Access Difficulties

Ground access to upper Chumnubri remains severely restricted following the destruction of key pedestrian infrastructure. Key access constraints include:

• Severed Bridges: The destruction of the 90-metre Sardibhir cantilever bridge at Lokpa, alongside suspension bridges at Nyakchet and Machhakhola, has severed walking routes into upper Chum Valley (Chumchet and Chhekampar).
• Aarughat Precautionary Clearances: Downstream in Aarughat Bazar (Ward 9), Nepal Police used megaphones to direct waterfront shopkeepers and residents to higher ground as the river rose, prior to the collapse of the 22-metre western concrete approach span of the Nayapul motor bridge.

4. Verified Emergency Assistance Channels

Government agencies have activated emergency hotlines for disaster reporting and health assistance:

5. Related HamroBuzz Coverage

• Physical Damage & Infrastructure: Budhi Gandaki Flash Flood: Settlements and Bridges Damaged Across Gorkha as Riverside Communities Evacuate
• Geological & Warning Explainer: What Triggered the Budhi Gandaki Flash Flood? Suspected Landslide Damming and Evolving Downstream Warnings