The flood struck the northern part of the Gorkha district around 4 am.
The flood struck the northern part of the district around 4 am, officials said. Bridges at Arughat, Tripurasundari and Soti-Manbu were among those reported damaged or destroyed, Sharma said.
The flood swept away six bridges, including two motorable bridges and four suspension bridges, according to officials. Chumnubri Rural municipality deputy chair Laxmi Gurung said the flooding had caused extensive damage to the local market. “The Budhigandaki flood is reminiscent of the Bhotekoshi flood,” she said, according to Online Khabar.
Authorities are monitoring the river as its water level continues to fluctuate, while security personnel have been mobilised for search, rescue and evacuation operations. “It has washed away dozens of houses. It is not possible to say the exact extent of the damage right now.”
Residents of riverside settlements, including Chumling and Lokpa, fled their homes after hearing loud roaring sounds from nearby streams around 4 am. The affected region is around 184 km from Kathmandu. Tourists staying at local hotels also left for safer areas, residents said, PTI reported.
Prime Minister Balen Shah said a Nepal Army contingent had been deployed by air and land to conduct search and rescue operations. The Nepal Army later said six people had been evacuated to safer locations. Home minister Sudan Gurung said security personnel, including helicopter teams, had been deployed to assist with rescue and relief operations.
He also warned that the river’s flow was continuing to rise and that muddy floodwaters had entered some houses in Ghattekhola.