A storm accompanied by rain on Monday night destroyed public and private structures across Dhankuta district.

Officials said the incident occurred at 8 pm, and around two dozen government buildings in the district headquarters alone were damaged in the incident. 

Roofs were blown off at several offices, including the Public Service Commission, the District Ayurved Hospital, the Division Forest Office, the Dhankuta Drinking Water and Sanitation Users’ Committee, the Koshi Provincial Museum, and the library at Pasang Lhamu Hall of the Dhankuta Multiple Campus.

Power supply across the district has been disrupted since Monday night, affecting services, including the internet, said officials. According to the Dhankuta branch of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), fallen poles and snapped wires have made it difficult to restore the supply immediately.

NEA official Hem Thapa said electricity supply could be partially resumed in some areas by Tuesday evening if fallen poles at key locations are cleared.

Structures of the Armed Police Force’s Chhintang Gulma were also damaged. Tin-roofed mud-and-stone houses in Balmadir, Hulaktol, Bichbazaar, Siran Bazaar, Hatiya, and Bhimnarayan Chowk suffered significant damage.

Areas including Sidhuwa, Jorpati, Hile, and the district headquarters have reported major damage, while around 100 large pine trees were uprooted in the Salleri National Forest in Dhankuta, blocking inner roads.

Authorities said the exact details of the damage are still being collected. Meanwhile, the Koshi Highway, which was blocked after trees fell during the storm, resumed operation from 8 am on Tuesday.

The District Administration Office said it was coordinating with local levels and security agencies to collect damage details. Chief District Officer Binod Kumar Khadka said search and rescue efforts have been put on priority, and a meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee would be called after preliminary data collection.