Floods in Nepal destroy homes and bridges

A major river in Nepal has flooded, sweeping away houses, bridges and damaging part of a hydropower station, according to authorities.

The army confirmed that around 50 people were rescued from the bank of the Budhi Gandaki River in the central Gorkha district. No casualties have been reported yet, though five people are missing.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority stated that the flood destroyed approximately a dozen houses and several suspension bridges, while a hydroelectric project was damaged, with some construction equipment carried away.

Officials noted that within a couple of hours, the river's water levels at one location rose from two metres to nearly 8.5 metres. A meteorologist working with the Nepalese government added that the hydrological station at the location was swept away, and no data is being received from there.

Nepal is still recovering from catastrophic floods that struck its border towns with Tibet two months ago, which killed over 1,400 people and left thousands missing.

The flood occurred as children and communities prepared to mark the first day of the Dashain festival, a significant moment in the Nepali calendar. Families have been forced to flee their homes, facing uncertainty about safe shelter and access to essential supplies.