Sourced fact
The News
New floods have hit Nepal's Gorkha region, causing the destruction of homes and bridges and disrupting the operation of a power station. According to government authorities, 95 people, including nine foreigners, were rescued from the banks of the Budi Gandaki River. No fatalities have been reported so far, but five people are still missing. As per a video that was shared, the raging waters submerged an entire valley and destroyed an entire residential complex.
The Sunday floods struck Gorkha while families and communities were preparing to celebrate the start of the Dashain festival, a significant event in the Nepalese calendar. The floods destroyed over 200 homes and affected more than 650 people. Communication with many settlements has been cut off, and these areas are now accessible only by air.
Disaster Management authorities reported that the floods destroyed around twenty homes and a number of hanging bridges, causing damage to a power generation project. The floods also caused the water level in the river to rise from approximately 2 meters to 8.5 meters within a few hours.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
From an analytical perspective, Nepal faces significant challenges due to the frequency of natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, and floods. These latest floods come after a disaster in August when glacial and rock avalanches destroyed villages on the border between Nepal and Tibet, resulting in over 1,400 fatalities.
In a broader context, reports indicate that climate change is increasing the risk of such disasters by accelerating ice melt in the Himalayas. This increases the vulnerability of local communities, especially in areas dependent on fragile infrastructure.
It is also worth noting that the recent floods in Gorkha have caused the destruction of vital infrastructure, making recovery efforts more difficult. Additionally, the floods have impacted the ability to provide humanitarian aid, with some settlements now accessible only by air.
