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Floods in the Budhigandaki River and Therang Khola at Namrung in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-4 of northern Gorkha have swept away two bridges and two micro-hydropower projects. The disaster has disrupted transportation and electricity services, causing hardships for local residents.

According to local resident Lakpa Dundup Lama, the flood, accompanied by landslides, washed away two bridges along the Manaslu trekking route and damaged two hydropower projects.

The Therang Khola flood destroyed a bridge connecting Namrung to the Manaslu region. Rising water levels in the Budhigandaki River also swept away another bridge located downstream in a forested area near Namrung.

“The flood and landslides have put us at risk,” Lama said. “The bridge leading down from the village is gone, and the bridge leading up is gone as well. We can’t travel anywhere.”

The floods also damaged two micro-hydropower projects that supplied electricity to local communities. One was a newly completed 100-kilowatt project, worth around NPR 70 million, which had just begun test transmission. The other was an existing 22-kilowatt project that had been in operation for years.

“One was a 100-kilowatt hydropower project that had just been completed at a cost of NPR 70 million and was undergoing test transmission, but it was swept away,” Lama said. “The other was a 22-kilowatt plant that had been providing power for years, and that too was completely destroyed. With transportation and electricity cut off, daily life has become very difficult.”

The power outage has affected lighting, communication services, and other electricity-dependent facilities. The destruction of the bridges has also disrupted tourist movement in the Manaslu region, just as the trekking season was beginning. Hundreds of tourists heading toward Larke Pass have been stranded after the Budhigandaki bridge was washed away.

Meanwhile, the District Police Office, Gorkha, reported that floodwaters triggered by landslides also swept away four local houses overnight. The homes belonged to Nurbu Ongyal, Orgen Chhoyden, Lakpa Bhuti, and Mingmar Lama.

“It shook the village like an earthquake,” said Ward Chairperson Pemagyalbo Lama. “Everyone woke up, realized a flood was coming, and ran to safety. Otherwise, the flood would have swept them all away.”

Ward Chairperson Lama said immediate short-term relief would be provided to the four affected families. Each family will receive NPR 20,000 for food and clothing, while the rural municipality is preparing to provide additional assistance worth NPR 100,000 per family within the next few days.

He added that efforts are also underway to secure relief support from other agencies and organizations.

Jalasarokar