KATHMANDU: The flash flood in the Bhotekoshi river on August 26 damaged 7,570 private buildings across five districts, displacing nearly 33,000 people, according to a government assessment.
A Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) report jointly prepared by the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority estimates that Rs 95.82 billion will be required for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected private buildings.
The two agencies conducted a joint assessment of the economic losses caused by the disaster and the resources required for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The disaster was triggered by a massive debris flow originating in the Lhende river watershed near the Rasuwagadhi area. The flow, involving ice, rocks and other debris, merged with the Bhotekoshi River before moving downstream through the Trishuli River and causing widespread destruction.
The resulting flood severely affected settlements and infrastructure in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and neighbouring districts.
According to the RDNA report, 8,317 households comprising 32,963 people were displaced by the disaster. Nuwakot recorded the highest number of damaged private buildings, with 3,977 structures affected.
Rasuwa reported damage to 1,779 private buildings, while 1,451 buildings were damaged in Dhading, 263 in Gorkha and 100 in Chitwan.
At the local level, Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot suffered the most extensive damage, with 3,266 private buildings affected. It was followed by Gosainkunda Rural Municipality in Rasuwa, where 1,043 buildings were damaged, and Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality in Dhading, which reported damage to 1,037 buildings.
At the ward level, five wards of Kispang Rural Municipality in Nuwakot were among the worst affected, with 696 buildings damaged. Gosainkunda Rural Municipality-2 in Rasuwa reported damage to 571 buildings, while 553 buildings were affected in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-3 of Dhading.
The report cautioned that a detailed assessment and household-level verification will be necessary to determine which structures can be repaired, which require complete reconstruction and which should be relocated because of continuing disaster risks.
The total damage to private buildings and household assets has been estimated at Rs 63.84 billion. Of this, Rs 38.93 billion represents damage to building structures, while household property losses are estimated at Rs 24.95 billion.
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