A sudden flood hit the Budhigandaki in Gorkha’s Chumnubri area early on Sunday. Preliminary findings suggest a landslide blocked the Syarkhola stream via the Ungilung tributary, and the pooled water and debris burst through all at once. Locals say the stream was blocked and released at least six times, with surges lasting about 15 minutes. Initial assessments show 45 houses destroyed and 27 partially damaged. Two motorable bridges, two suspension bridges, three hydropower projects and 34 livestock sheds were also hit. Police say five people from one family in Chumnubri-6 went out of contact while grazing sheep. The army used four helicopters to move 95 people, including nine foreigners, to safety. The Manaslu Conservation Area Project says about 115 tourists are at Jagat and 40 at Lokpa. The flood came less than two months after the August 26 Bhotekoshi disaster, raising questions about the safety of settlements along Himalayan-fed rivers. Many reports state that locals warned each other about an hour before the official alert.