BHUWAN SHARMA

The flood reached heights and flow speeds far beyond what the bridges were designed to withstand. Experts say the unusually high and fast flow swept away some bridges in a single blow.

Built by the Chinese government, the building was used for Constituent Assembly and parliamentary meetings from 2008 until the Gen Z protests.

A year after the Gen Z movement caused an estimated Rs 84.45 billion in damage, reconstruction has begun on roughly half of the affected public buildings while many others are still awaiting government action.

An initial assessment by experts puts the immediate reconstruction bill at between Rs 800 billion and Rs 900 billion—a figure that could rise further once the long-term needs of the disaster-hit areas are assessed.

The Nepal Geotechnical Society (NGS) has already submitted a report to the Department of Roads recommending a method for reopening the road at Krishnabhir following an on-site study. The team was led by Naresh Shakya, and the department has begun work based on its recommendations.

Where does all this money go? Is it spent exclusively on Bhotekoshi flood victims, or can it be used for disasters elsewhere?

According to the assessment, 1,779 houses were destroyed in Rasuwa. Of the four affected rural municipalities in the district, 1,043 houses were destroyed in Gosainkunda Rural Municipality, 567 in Uttargaya, 112 in Kalika and 57 in Aamachhodingmo.

As of 5 pm Wednesday, the Fund had Rs 7.376 billion. A senior official at the Office of the Prime Minister said the Fund held Rs 2.17 billion before the flood. 

According to the department, 35 of the 41 bridges between the Miteri Bridge in Rasuwa and Malekhu in Dhading were damaged by the flood. Of these, 32 were completely destroyed, and three suffered partial damage. Six bridges remain intact, allowing people to travel between the two banks of the Trishul...

The shortage of in-house expertise means the authority has to depend on outside agencies for equipment, technical resources and specialists during major disasters.