Gorkha flood triggered by massive landslide, glacial debris in upper Budhi Gandaki, report says
Summary
A massive landslide involving snow, glacier debris and water in the upper Budhi Gandaki basin triggered destructive flood surges in Gorkha on October 11. The largest wave reached Salleri at around 6:30am, rising 20 to 25 metres and damaging buildings, bridges and a hydropower camp downstream.
Key Points
- A technical assessment says a massive landslide high in the upper Budhi Gandaki basin triggered the flood surges in Gorkha.
- The landslide occurred around 5,500 to 6,000 metres altitude and involved snow, glacier debris and water.
- The largest surge reached Salleri at about 6:30am, rose 20 to 25 metres, and swept away a hydropower camp.
- Repeated blockages and releases of debris intensified flooding downstream, and the slide released energy comparable to a magnitude 3.5 earthquake.
