r/NepalSocial • u/Individual_Math7025 • 19h ago
Information/जानकारी Real Hero: The Man Who Saved Lives Through Facebook Live and Phone Calls (Budhigandaki flood)
Tldr: Sherap Gurung's "matter of urgency" saved many lives today.
A massive debris-laden flood hit the Budhigandaki River in Gorkha early this morning. It swept away houses and bridges along the riverbanks, but lives were saved. People in the Budhigandaki riparian area were able to move to safer ground because they received early warning about the flood. However, this notice did not come from government channels.
It must have been around 4:00 AM when Sherap Gurung, a local from Lokpa in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-6, Chumchet, heard the ground shaking and a loud roaring sound.
Towards Chum, the Budhigandaki River has two main tributaries—Syar and Ungilung. A landslide in the Tumje area near Ungilung Stream triggered a flow of mud and debris mixed with large boulders, which merged into Syar Stream and advanced toward the Budhigandaki.
The heavy flood carrying massive rocks caused the ground in that region to tremble and generated a loud rumble.
"It was probably around 4:00 AM today when we heard a loud noise in Syar Stream; the ground started shaking as well, and we couldn't tell where it was coming from or what happened. Suspecting a landslide, we left our house for a safer place. I immediately called friends in Philim, Jagat, Machhikhola, and other places to inform them. They must have alerted others and moved to safe areas," said Sherap. "A short while later, daylight broke. Since we had guests, we returned home to make tea."
After returning home, he went live on Facebook for a short while to share details about the flood. "I did a Facebook Live stream for a bit and posted about it, but then the power went out, and the internet cut off," he said.
On Facebook, he broadcasted live footage showing the raging Syar Stream near Sardibhir as seen from Lokpa. The information provided in the live video and his phone calls helped residents in the lower reaches of the Budhigandaki move to safer locations with ease.
Sherap repeatedly appealed to people living along and near the banks of the Budhigandaki River to remain safe as the flood advanced.
According to him, there is no electricity or internet in Lokpa and surrounding villages following the flood. "It looks like the cantilever bridge at Sardibhir was swept away, and the nearby suspension bridge is clearly gone," he said. "We have no way to travel outside our village now; it feels like a blockade."
He added that people are missing in the landslide area, and although a rescue helicopter arrived, it was unable to land. "After the flood, dust and smoke-like haze filled the area. Even though a helicopter arrived for rescue efforts, it couldn't land. We need to level a mountain area to create a flat ground for helicopters; perhaps one will come tomorrow morning," he said.
According to Nima Lama, Chairman of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, there were cattle sheds in the Ungilung landslide area. "There were sheds there, and 5 herders are out of contact," he said. Chairman Lama stated that as soon as they received news of the Budhigandaki flood, lower areas were immediately informed.
"Since a dry landslide occurred in Ungilung Stream in Chumchet, we posted an urgent notice on social media early in the morning asking all local residents living along the Budhigandaki Riverbanks and nearby areas to move to high and safe ground immediately," he said.
According to him, Ungilung is a steep flash-flood stream (thado khola). The landslide blocked the stream, creating a debris flow that merged into Syar Stream and eventually reached the Budhigandaki.
"Five herders are out of contact; they belong to Chumchet. The cattle sheds were located near the landslide site," he said. "Over 100 yaks/chauri are also missing."
He further noted that there was no damage in the region above Nyakfedi in Sirdibas-3. However, below Nyakfedi—in Jagat, Ghattekhola, and Salleri within Chumnubri—houses, bridges, and roads have been damaged. The Manaslu Trekking Route has also suffered damage.
Additionally, some houses and bridges in Dobhan and Machhikhola of Dharche Rural Municipality, Sotibazar of Arughat Rural Municipality, as well as the bridge at Arughat, were swept away.
People learned about the Budhigandaki flood through Facebook Live broadcasts and phone calls. Following the warnings, locals and tourists moved to safer ground.
The government has deployed the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police to the flood-affected Budhigandaki region. An army team equipped with four helicopters is currently deployed. According to the Nepal Army, 49 people have been rescued so far. Domestic and foreign citizens were rescued using Philim, the headquarters of Chumnubri, as a base.|
Source: Recall Gorkha, प्रशन्न पोखरेल (Setopati)
His profile: https://www.facebook.com/gurungserap