Kathmandu, Oct 11: A debris-laden flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki River has swept away more than 35 houses, bridges and also damaged a hydropower project in Nepal's Gorkha district on Sunday. The flood in the Gandaki Province swept away houses in Salleri, Paiyuka and the riverbed at Jagat, as well as a suspension bridge connecting the ward, Ram Kumar Gurung, ward chair of Chumnubri Rural Municipality-3, was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.

The flood has swept away around three dozen houses in Chumnubri Rural Municipality of the district as per the preliminary reports, Sharma said. Chumnubri Rural Municipality Deputy Chair Laxmi Gurung said the flood that hit the Budhi Gandaki this morning is reminiscent of the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa, Online Khabar news portal reported.

" The Budhigandaki flood is reminiscent of the Bhotekoshi flood," she said. " It has washed away dozens of houses.

It is not possible to say the exact extent of the damage right now." The flood struck around 4 am, prompting locals to flee to safer places.

Laxmi informed that significant damage was caused to the market in Chumanubri Rural Municipality-3 due to the floodwaters. Home Minister Sudan Gurung said the flood had also swept away the bridge linking Nyakchet and Philim bazaar in Chumnubri-3.

With the river continuing to rise, helicopters had been deployed for rescue operations, relief distribution and evacuations, he said. Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and local authorities were mobilised to carry out rescue and relief operations.

" The flood came early in the morning, and we could not even take out our belongings," Ram Kumar said. " Everyone fled as soon as we heard the flood was coming."

The full extent of the damage was not yet known, he said. Sherap Gurung, a resident of Lokpa, said the sound suggested that the water flow had repeatedly stopped and resumed.

" Because it was dark, we could not tell whether the stream had been blocked or a landslide had occurred. It had not rained either," he said.

Authorities were using loudspeakers to warn people living along the river and urge them to move to safer locations. The Gorkha district administration has urged people by the riverside to stay alert and shift to safe places, Netra Prasad Sharma, Assistant Chief District Officer of Gorkha District Administration Office, said.