Kathmandu: On Sunday evening, in Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality-4 Kagbeni of Mustang, a devastating flood resulted in the destruction of 10 houses, a police post, and a bridge.

The incident occurred in Kagbeni, a significant religious site and the central hub of the rural municipality. At approximately 8 pm, floodwaters from Kagkhola wreaked havoc, causing extensive damage.

Rinjin Gurung, the chairman of Baragung Mukti Kshetra Rural Municipality, reported that the flood surge swept away numerous structures, including 10 houses or hotels, a police station, a bridge under construction on the Jomsom-Korla road, a pedestrian bridge, three electricity poles, and two vehicles.

Recognizing the potential danger, evacuations were promptly carried out to prevent any loss of human life after the damming of the Tirikhola upstream from Kagbeni led to the flooding.

Gurung mentioned that even the Dharamshala in Kagbeni was engulfed by the flood. The floodwaters inundated the settlement, leaving a scene of disarray in its wake. The Kagkhola, flowing from Muktinath, courses through the heart of Kagbeni.

Chief District Officer Anup KC disclosed that a coordinated rescue operation involving the Nepali Army, Armed Police, Nepal Police, and local people's representatives was launched. However, accessing Kagbeni from Jomsom has been challenging due to the flooding in Pandakhola. The road to Upper Mustang from Kagbeni has been blocked as a result.

Additionally, the electric supply has been disrupted due to the collapse of power poles. Mustang has experienced consistent rainfall over the past two days, leading to heightened water levels in other rivers within the region.

According to data from the meteorological station at Jomsom Airport in Mustang, rainfall reached 25.8 mm in the preceding 24 hours. The situation underscores the vulnerability of these areas to rapid changes in weather conditions and emphasizes the need for effective disaster response and mitigation measures.