KATHMANDU: The government has released the first tranche of relief funds for temporary housing to victims who lost their homes in the October 2024 disasters, though reconstruction efforts remain stalled nearly a year later.
According to the District Administration Office, a total of Rs 77.9 million has been distributed as the first installment to 3,128 affected families across 13 local units in Kavrepalanchok. Each family was entitled to Rs 25,000 in the first phase.
Assistant Chief District Officer Sudarshan Shrestha informed that while around Rs 40 million has already been released to the district office for the second tranche, most local units have yet to claim it. Only Bethanchowk and Roshi rural municipalities have withdrawn the second installment and distributed Rs 16.42 million to a total of 657 families.
The government procedure provides Rs 50,000 per household in two installments for the construction of temporary shelters.
Despite six months having passed since the start of detailed damage assessments (DDA) for private housing, progress has been slow. Of the 13 local units, only Roshi Rural Municipality has completed its assessment, officials confirmed.
The assessments were initiated in late March under then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, starting from Narayantaar in Roshi-2, the worst-hit area. However, the lack of complete data on destroyed houses has stalled the release of full reconstruction grants.
Currently, 18 engineers have been mobilized for the assessment, with local representatives and the Chief District Officer tasked with facilitating the process.
Continuous rainfall in the second week of October 2024 triggered floods and landslides across Kavrepalanchok, causing massive loss of life and property. Official figures show 81 fatalities, six people still missing, and around 100 injured. Namobuddha Municipality, Panauti Municipality, Bethanchowk, Temal, Bhumlu, Khanikhola, and Mahabharat rural municipalities were among the hardest hit.
Nearly a year on, however, the reconstruction of private housing remains in limbo due to incomplete assessments and procedural delays, leaving hundreds of families still struggling in temporary shelters.
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