Gorkha, Oct. 11 -- 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 auth...