Budhi Gandaki flood leaves Shantibazar families under tarpaulins, cuts off Dharche

A flood in the Budhi Gandaki river on Asoj 25 devastated the Shantibazar settlement in Arughat Rural Municipality-5, Gorkha. According to local resident Rajkumar Khatri, none of the settlement's roughly 58 households are in a livable condition.

The flood damaged homes along with food grains, clothing, electrical appliances, livestock, and farmland. Khatri said paddy, chickens, televisions, and refrigerators were destroyed, and only the tin roofing could be salvaged from the houses.

He said the river, which used to flow on the opposite side of the settlement, is now flowing right through the yards of the houses. Families who lost their homes are now living under tarpaulins, and locals say they urgently need arrangements for shelter.

The same flood swept away the main suspension bridge connecting the Kerounja and Runchet areas in Dharche Rural Municipality-2, disrupting movement there. Another bridge at Khorlabensi was also swept away, forcing locals to use a difficult footpath via the Luchek bridge further up.

There are problems transporting daily consumer goods, while relief materials are being delivered by drone. With nearly 15 days passed since the bridge was swept away without reconstruction, locals have demanded that the government build a new bridge quickly.