The devastating flood of the Bhote Koshi river, triggered by a landslide in the Nepal-China border region, has destroyed thousands of private homes across four districts in Nepal. Thousands of displaced individuals are currently housed in various holding centers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Kathmandu, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
In the four most affected districts, the floodwaters of the Bhote Koshi surged with great force, carrying rocks and debris that swept away even solidly constructed homes within moments. More than 1,100 lives have been lost, with nearly 4,000 people still reported missing. Additionally, preliminary estimates from the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction indicate that over 7,500 private houses have been damaged. According to Deputy Director General Prakash Aryal, the distribution of damaged homes includes 1,779 in Rasuwa, 3,977 in Nuwakot, 1,551 in Dhading, and 263 in Gorkha.
“Moreover, 53 government buildings have also suffered damage, comprising 25 in Rasuwa, 8 in Nuwakot, 17 in Dhading, and 3 in Gorkha,” Aryal stated. The destruction has reportedly caused financial losses amounting to billions of Nepalese rupees, although precise figures are yet to be confirmed. When compared to the 2015 earthquake, which destroyed over 500,000 homes entirely and partially damaged approximately 250,000 more, this flood represents one of the largest disasters Nepal has faced.
However, former head of the National Reconstruction Authority, Sushil Gyawali, noted that the nature of damage to private residences in these two disasters varies significantly. “In the earthquake, while houses were demolished, the land remained intact, allowing people to reuse old materials to rebuild their homes. But in this case, both houses and land have been swept away,” he explained. “The main challenge now is to identify safe and suitable land for resettlement. Due to social, economic, and cultural ties, relocation should be as nearby as possible, but preserving the life cycle and safety is the foremost priority,” he added.
