Residents living along the Budhi Gandaki river in north central Nepal were forced to evacuate on Sunday due to flash flooding that caused destruction to homes and structures in the area. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority took action to evacuate villagers and advised others to relocate to safer areas while maintaining a state of alertness until late Sunday. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Efforts are underway by the disaster management agency to determine the cause of the flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki river, which converges with the Trishuli river and serves as a crucial waterway near the capital city of Kathmandu. Videos circulating on social media depict houses and sheds being washed away by the swollen river amidst towering mountains, although the extent of impact on the small villages in the mountainous region remains unclear. Social media posts indicate that the government’s warning led to an evacuation in Arughat, a town located along the riverside on the highway linking Kathmandu to other regions.

Nepal is still in the process of recovering from a devastating flood in August along the Nepal-China border, which resulted in over 1,400 fatalities and left thousands missing. The office of Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah announced the conclusion of search and rescue operations for additional victims on Monday. The focus will now shift towards recovery efforts, including the restoration of roads and bridges that were severed by the floods, especially in remote areas where damaged infrastructure has hindered aid distribution.

The government anticipates that the reconstruction endeavors will amount to $4.77 billion. Approximately 33,000 individuals have been impacted, with around 7,500 homes either damaged or destroyed in the aftermath of the floods.