Following the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli floods on September 10, search and rescue operations have now shifted focus towards rehabilitation efforts, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). Dharma Raj Upreti, the Executive Chief of the Authority, stated that the government is implementing various projects to provide relief to affected individuals, construct temporary shelters, and improve connectivity in the flood-impacted regions. “Relief distribution to those residing in 18 holding centers is ongoing, and they will soon be relocated to temporary housing with support from the Ministry of Infrastructure,” Upreti said. “In addition, road repairs and reconstruction, channel opening through controlled blasting, and the construction of new bridges and Bailey bridges have commenced.”
The NDRRMA reported that the devastating flood caused 1,453 fatalities and left 5,285 people missing. Approximately 33,000 individuals have been displaced. A phased plan has been devised: initial cash grants to affected families, followed by arrangements for temporary housing, and ultimately assistance for permanent private house construction. On September 25, the government decided to provide a monthly allowance of NPR 15,000 for six months to families of up to four members until permanent housing is established. For families exceeding four members, an additional NPR 2,000 per month will be provided for each extra family member.
Currently, key activities include identifying beneficiaries, road construction, and suspension bridge building. According to Ram Bahadur KC, Deputy Secretary of the Authority’s Disaster Response Branch, the number of people at holding centers is steadily decreasing—from approximately 4,800 initially to about 1,000 at present. “Efforts to expedite beneficiary identification and registration are underway to facilitate living conditions and housing for those residing in holding centers,” KC explained.
The government has distributed forms to local levels for the affected individuals to complete. After ward-level disaster committee meetings finalize names, the municipality forwards them to the District Disaster Management Committee, which then sends them to the Authority. “Although fund disbursement has not yet begun, amounts provided by various organizations, including the Red Cross, have already been distributed. We aim to deliver a minimum of NPR 50,000 to citizens by the Dashain festival,” Deputy Mayor Prabha Bogati stated.
