By Bidur Acharya, Chautara, June 16: A total of seven casualties have been confirmed in the flood that swept across Melamchi Bazaar and the Helambu area last night. Two bodies were recovered on Wednesday morning while the search and rescue operation is still going on.

The majority of houses in Melamchi Bazaar have been affected due to the massive flood in the Melamchi River. Similarly, the Melamchi-Helambu and Melamchi-Tipeni road connectivity has been cut off.

All the suspension and concrete bridges have been washed away by the flood and Helambu and Paanch Pokhari Rural Municipality have been disconnected from the road network.

The flood has also washed away the Radio Melamchi building, Melamchi Bus Park Area, and thousands of Ropanis of cultivable land.  All the buildings of the 20-kilometer long Melamchi-Timbu corridor have been swept away.

Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchowk Arun Pokharel informed that the Nepal Police, Nepali Army, and Armed Police Force were carrying out rescue operations in the flooded area.

The NA has been rescuing the locals of the inundated area from their rooftops with the help of a helicopter.

"NA's helicopter has been sent to the flooded area to rescue the injured locals. Also, we are holding discussions regarding the reestablishment of the settlements," said Health Minister Sher Bahadur Tamang, who is also the Member of Parliament from Melamchi.

Hundreds of houses in Timbu Bazaar, Chalise, Chanaute, Gyalthum of Helambu Rural Municipality, and Talamarang and areas near Melamchi River of Melamchi Municipality have been washed away by the flood.

Meanwhile, the police have said that data regarding the loss caused by the flood had not been received yet.  Tashi Lama, Chairman of Paanch Pokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality, said, "The landslide at Larke in ward no. 3 had jammed the river for an hour, which caused a huge loss in the area."

Moreover, Area Police Office, Timbu informed that all houses of Timbu Bazaar including the police station were swept away.