Helicopter rescue fails, rafting team saves flood-stranded dog after 20 days

A pet dog stranded across the Budhigandaki river in Gorkha after flooding has been rescued 20 days later.

The flood on Asoj 25 swept away houses and a bridge in Jagat, Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3, in northern Gorkha, leaving a dog named Seti stranded on the other bank of the river.

With a sheer cliff on one side and a bend in the river on the other, locals had not even been able to deliver food to the spot where the dog was stranded.

Plans to rescue the dog by helicopter were initially made, but bad weather prevented the flight.

A rafting team from Dhading then coordinated with Animal Nepal and the rural municipality, reaching Jagat in Sirdibas on Friday and safely bringing the dog out.

Rural municipality chair Nima Lama said the rafting team's help was sought after the helicopter could not fly. The Manaslu Conservation Area Project, the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Services Office in Gorkha, and the Gorkha Jaycees also assisted in the rescue.

Efforts are also under way to rescue goats stranded in the same area.