A flash flood carrying black silt swept through the Budhigandaki River in Gorkha district, causing extensive physical damage, including to permanent bridges, and prompting urgent appeals for rescue and safety measures. The Nepali Congress called on the government to intensify rescue efforts and urged people living downstream to remain safe, while Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal asked people to join rescue, relief and security efforts for those affected.
Parties call for intensified rescue efforts
The Nepali Congress issued its appeal in a statement released by Acting Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Dulal. The party urged the government to step up rescue operations following the flood, which carried black silt through the river and damaged physical infrastructure, including permanent bridges. Its statement also addressed residents in downstream areas, asking them to prioritize their safety.
The party called on its members to take part in rescue operations, while emphasizing that they should protect themselves as they help. The appeal paired a request for wider participation with a warning not to overlook personal safety. It did not provide details about the number of people involved in rescue work or the extent of damage beyond noting extensive physical damage and impacts on permanent bridges.
Dahal urges participation in rescue and relief
Dahal, identified as coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party, also urged people to take part in efforts for those affected by the Budhigandaki flood. His appeal covered rescue, relief and the security of affected citizens, placing the focus on assistance and protection for people facing the consequences of the flooding.
The calls from the two political parties highlighted the need for a response involving both government action and public participation. The Nepali Congress specifically urged the government to intensify rescue efforts and asked its members to join operations cautiously. Dahal urged people more broadly to contribute to rescue and relief and to help protect those affected.
Safety concerns after the river flood
The damage to permanent bridges was among the physical impacts identified after the black-silt-laden flood swept through the river in Gorkha. The statements also drew attention to the safety of people downstream, with the Nepali Congress asking residents in those areas to stay safe. Neither appeal, as described in the available information, gave a detailed account of the damage at individual locations or the condition of specific bridges.
The party statements did not include a confirmed account of casualties, the number of people requiring assistance or the scale of relief needed. They centered instead on calls to intensify rescue work, participate in relief and protect affected people. The Nepali Congress also made clear that members joining rescue operations should consider their own safety while helping.
The appeals put immediate emphasis on rescue, relief and security following the flooding, while recognizing the risks for both downstream residents and people taking part in response efforts. The river flood caused extensive physical damage in Gorkha, including to permanent bridges, and prompted calls for government action and public involvement. Further information about the effects of the flood was not included in the statements summarized here.
