One person died while seven people have gone missing after floodwaters from Melamchi River entered settlements in Sindhupalchok district.

The deceased and the missing persons were swept away by the flood that wreaked havoc in Melamchi Bazaar on Tuesday.

According to DSP Prakash Sapkota, the identity of the deceased whose body was recovered from the banks of Indrawati River is yet to be ascertained.

Most of the missing persons are workers at various Trout farms along the banks of Melamchi River, said Sapkota.

Continuous rainfall since Monday has increased the water level in the Melamchi River as floodwaters entered several settlements from Hyalmobhumi in Helambu to Melamchi Bazaar area causing massive damage to surrounding settlements.

District Police Office informed floodwaters have damaged scores of houses and swept away two concrete motorable bridges and around half a dozen suspension bridges in the district.

“Over 100 families have been displaced in the Melamchi area alone,” said Sapkota. “The displaced people are taking shelter at the building of Indreshwori Secondary School in Melamchi Nagar.”

Eight trout fish farms, Nakote bridge, farmlands at Timbu, Chanaute Bazar, Amahyalmo Buspark and City Park have also been swept away by the floods.

The flood has also damaged the Helambu-based police office and the Chinese camp and Armed Police Force camp of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, said police.

“The local people have been forced to seek refuge in higher grounds. Most of them spent their night under the open skies,” said Raj Kumar Bhandari, a local man of Kiul in Helambu-2.