Ungilung River flood in Gorkha devastates Chumanuwri, leaves four unaccounted for

GORKHA: A sudden flood from Ungilung River in the Budhigandaki area of Gorkha district has devastated Chumanuwri Rural Municipality, sweeping away 35 houses and damaging key infrastructure. Four people remain unaccounted for.

The disaster struck at about 4:00 am, forcing residents of Paiyu and Bagar villages to flee to higher ground. Lakshmi Gurung, vice chairperson of Chumanuwri Rural Municipality, said the destruction also affected Dobhan, Ghattekhola, Jagat and Salleri, and caused heavy damage to the market in Chumanuwri‑3.

The Machhikhola bridge, a vital link to Dharche Rural Municipality, was destroyed. Assistant Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma said that Machhikhola Bazaar suffered considerable damage and that infrastructure connecting Soti and Manbu in Arughat Rural Municipality has been lost.

Four livestock shelters on the banks of Ungilung River, which housed 15 yaks and four caretakers, have lost all contact and remain unaccounted for.

Police Inspector Akash Kandel of the District Police Office in Gorkha said residents of Khorlabensi, Machhakhola, Soti, Arkhet and Arughat in Sirdibas and Dharche Rural Municipality have been advised to evacuate to safer areas. He added that there have been no confirmed fatalities so far, but a full assessment of the damage is still underway.

(With inputs from RSS)