KATHMANDU, August 1: Seventeen houses and huts in Helambu Rural Municipality and Melamchi Municipality of Sindhupalchowk were washed away by a flash flood in the Melamchi River last night.

According to the District Police Office (DPO), incessant rain for the past some days triggered the flood. “Of them, nine are cemented residences,” said Rajan Adhikari, Superintendent of Police (SP) at the DPO.

Earlier, Helambu Rural Municipality and Melamchi Municipality were devastated by a flood on June 15.

The fresh flood has also washed away the Rato Bridge at Chanaute. According to local resident Hasta Pandit, the bridge collapsed at 7:45 this morning. The bridge was the only means to connect Melamchi-7 and 8, Panchpokhari- 1 and 2 and many wards of Helambu.

With the collapse of the bridge, traffic in the area has been closed. The floods have also washed away a suspension bridge at Gyalthum.

According to SP Adhikari, Gyalthum bazaar is also at high risk due to the rising water level in the river. The river has changed its regular course and swept away a part of Talamarang Police Station.

Helambu Rural Municipality Chair Nima Gyaljen said no bridges above the Melamchi bazaar were left by the flood. No vehicle could reach Helambu from Melamchi as the landslides have hit the Helambu-Melamchi corridor at different points, Melamchi Mayor Dambar Aryal said. (RSS) 

 
• Helambu
 
• Melamchi
 
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