September 8, Kathmandu – Education and Sports Minister Sasmita Pokharel and Information and Communication Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina conducted an inspection tour of schools affected by recent floods. The joint ministerial team visited the impacted areas to carry out on-site monitoring of various educational institutions and infrastructure. During the assessment following the devastating floods that struck on August 26, the ministers gathered detailed information about school buildings, educational facilities, and the academic conditions of students. They also engaged in discussions with local government officials, elected representatives, and stakeholders involved in addressing the crisis. The monitoring team included local government leaders and other representatives.
The inspection itinerary began with a visit to the Education Development and Coordination Unit in Bidur. Subsequently, the team observed flood-affected sites in the Pulwari area of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School. They also visited the holding center at Nyureni Sundari Secondary School, the community multipurpose building, and the Durbar area in Bidur, Nuwakot. The schedule included monitoring the infrastructure of Carvet Hall in Bidur, Chandrayoti Secondary School, and Annapurna Panchakanya Basic School.
During the visit, the team collected firsthand information about damages sustained by educational institutions and infrastructure, the status of school operations, and the effects on students’ learning activities. Discussions with concerned stakeholders focused on necessary measures to facilitate academic activities for the affected schools and students. The severe flooding of the Bhote Koshi River severely affected 15 local levels in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Tanahun districts. The government has declared these local bodies as disaster-stricken areas. Preliminary reports indicate that 19 schools across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading were either fully or partially damaged. Additionally, 16 teachers and 217 students remain unaccounted for, and the education of 9,742 students has been disrupted, according to initial data.
