KATHMANDU: After the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar was severely damaged in last week’s arson during the Gen-Z protests, a new workspace is being prepared for the recently appointed prime minister.
The office is being set up in the new building originally constructed for the Ministry of Home Affairs in the northwestern section of Singha Durbar. Security personnel and staff, including the Nepal Army, are moving furniture and equipment that survived the fire, such as tables, chairs, sofas, and computers, from the old office to the new site.
On the fifth day since the attack, parts of the main building at Singha Durbar are still smoldering, with burnt vehicles, papers, and materials scattered across the compound.
Meanwhile, despite the public holiday, a large number of staff led by Education Secretary Chudamani Paudel gathered at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to clear debris and manage waste. The ministry is among those that suffered the heaviest damage, with burned-out vehicles in its premises resembling ‘human skeletons,’ according to officials.
Deputy Secretary and ministry spokesperson Shiv Kumar Sapkota said employees have been mobilized to clean up and restore the workplace for regular operations. He added that a separate team has been formed to assess the extent of damage to vehicles, computers, furniture, and other equipment.
Sapkota expressed confidence that the collective effort of staff would help resume services quickly in areas where there is no major structural damage. He also noted that such initiatives could inspire other ministries affected by the unrest to begin similar recovery efforts.
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