A flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki river in Gorkha early Sunday has damaged settlements, bridges and infrastructure in Chumnubri and Dharche rural municipalities.

The flood swept away houses, two suspension footbridges and a motorable iron bridge, while inundating homes in several settlements and putting others at risk. A construction camp and some equipment belonging to a hydropower project were also swept away.

Preliminary reports suggest that a landslide may have blocked the Syar river between Lokpa and Chumling in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-6, triggering the flood. Another possible cause is a landslide that blocked the river near the Ungilung river in Chumchet. The exact cause has yet to be established, and authorities are still collecting details of the damage.

Residents and tourists began fleeing to safer places after hearing loud sounds from the Ugyulung and Syar rivers from around 4am. Locals said water levels continued to fluctuate.

Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, chief district officer of Gorkha, said authorities had received preliminary reports of a landslide above Sirdibas in Chumnubri. Five to seven houses in the riverbank settlement of Jagat had been swept away, he said. No details of casualties had been confirmed.

Laxmi Gurung, vice-chair of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, said houses in Ghattikhola in ward 3 had also been swept away. Local authorities and police were using loudspeakers to warn people living along the river to move to safer areas.

Where has the damage been reported?

Chumnubri-3, Sirdibas and surrounding settlements: More than 10 houses in Salleri, Paiyun and Jagat Bagar were swept away, according to Ram Kumar Gurung, ward chair of Chumnubri-3. One unreinforced house belonging to local resident Ram Bahadur Gurung in Sirdibas was swept away, while floodwater entered another of his houses.

Nyakchet-Sirdibas: An old suspension footbridge connecting Nyakchet and Sirdibas was swept away. Home Minister Sudan Gurung also reported that a bridge linking Nyakchet and Philim Bazar had been destroyed.

Dharche-5, Machhakhola: A suspension footbridge connecting Machhakhola and Kerauja was swept away. Floodwater entered five to seven houses and five to seven temporary structures in the lower settlement, according to preliminary reports. Locals said some houses had already been swept away.

Dharche-3, Salleri: Around 20 to 22 houses were reported to be at risk.

Aarughat-2 and 3: A motorable iron bridge at Soti, which connects the two wards, was swept away.

Budhi Gandaki hydropower project: Floodwaters swept away the construction camp and some equipment at the site of the 341-megawatt semi-reservoir-type Budhi Gandaki hydropower project under construction in Salleri, Chumnubri-3.

Four people missing: Four people living in a shed on the banks of the Ungilung river in Chumchet, Chumnubri Rural Municipality-6, have been reported missing following flooding in the Budhi Gandaki river on Sunday morning.

Gorkha-Dhading bridge: The flood-swollen Budhi Gandaki river swept away the bridge at Arughat linking Dhading and Gorkha districts. Residents of Arughat Bazar living along the riverbank were moved to safer locations amid the risk of further flooding.

Authorities have yet to establish the full extent of the damage or confirm whether the flooding caused any deaths or injuries.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.