Locals alerted each other of Budhigandaki flood an hour before official warning
Summary
Locals in Chumnubri alerted each other to a Budigandaki flash flood an hour before the government issued its first official warning. The surge swept away homes, vehicles and trekking infrastructure in Gorkha, but swift community action helped save lives.
Key Points
- Residents in Jagatbagar and nearby areas used phone calls, Facebook livestreams and word of mouth to warn one another before the flood struck.
- The first official police warning came at 5:30 am, while mass SMS alerts from government agencies were sent much later.
- No deaths were reported in Chumanubri because residents and tourists were evacuated into the forest and uphill in time.
- Officials said the delay was caused by limited monitoring equipment in the upper Budigandaki basin and other remote mountain areas.
