Flood cuts off Jagat village in Gorkha, isolates 25 houses

A flash flood in the Budhigandaki river has completely cut off outside access to Jagat village in Sirdibas, Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3, in northern Gorkha.

According to Rural Municipality Chief Administrative Officer Narayan Prasad Sapkota, 25 houses in Jagat have been cut off, while nine houses have been swept away by the flood.

He said the road at Kalebhir below the village has been completely eroded away, and the road and trail toward Salleri above have also been swept away.

Bhuwan Raj Ojha, chief of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project's Philim office, said Jagat residents are stranded, unable to go either down or up.

According to him, the flood has also cut the route from Jagat down toward Bagar.

According to officer Sapkota, the flood has also caused damage in the ward's Bhattakhola, Bagar, Paiyun and Salleri settlements.

Initial reports indicate 31 families' houses were swept away in those settlements — seven, ten, ten and four respectively.

All members of the families who lost their homes are safe and are being accommodated in safe locations.

The rural municipality said preparations are underway to provide tarpaulins and food grains to those affected.