Landslide-triggered flash flood sweeps through Nepal's Himalayan valleys
On 11 October 2026, a flash flood swept down the Budhi Gandaki River in Nepal’s Gorkha District, about 100 km northwest of Kathmandu. The flood came less than two months after a a similar event struck the Rasuwa District on 26 August 2026. This new event affected bridges, homes, and trekking routes in the Manaslu region. Local officials reported that more than 100 foreign trekkers were stranded.
This comparison of images acquired by Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites shows the area before and after the event. In the image from 1 October 2026, the valleys of the Budhi Gandaki and its tributary, the Shyar Khola, appear undisturbed. In the image from 11 October 2026, dark sediment deposits are visible along a side valley leading down to the Shyar Khola, and the river channels downstream appear darker and wider.
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites support the monitoring of river valleys and landslide-prone terrain, helping authorities to identify affected areas and plan disaster response.
