Maoists overnight launched a massive attack on district headquarters Sandhikharka of Arghakhachi district 300kms north west of Kathmandu, police said. Casualty figures were not immediately available, but suspected to be very high.

A police officer in Police Headquarters said the fighting continued till Monday morning and the number of the casualties will be more than 100. The Maoists attacked around 10 PM last night and the district lost communications 3 AM, he said.

The Royal Nepal Army had sent a night vision helicopter last night but is was unable to help the ground forces at the district headquarters.

Police and army reinforcements have reached the clash site, Home Ministry spokesman Gopendra Bahadur Pandey said. He did not have any casualty figures.

The attack comes one day after Maoists killed 49 policemen and injured 21 more in Sindhuli.