Seven months after floods and landslides devastated Kavrepalanchok in late September last year, the government has finally begun a detailed assessment of the damage to private houses. The assessment kicked off in Roshi Rural Municipality, the area that suffered the highest loss of life and property in Bagmati Province.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak formally launched the process on Wednesday from Ward No. 2 of Roshi Rural Municipality, Narayantar. He handed over damage assessment certificates to three victims—Dhansingh Lama, Rajan Bohora Chhetri, and Shubhadra Senchuri—marking the beginning of the long-awaited survey.

Before distributing the certificates, the Home Minister visited the flood and landslide-affected areas in Narayantar. He acknowledged delays in launching the reconstruction process and announced that the government would provide a grant of Rs 50,000 in two phases for temporary housing and Rs 35 million for permanent housing reconstruction.

On Wednesday alone, the government released Rs 73.5 million for temporary housing in Kavre. Eighteen technicians have been deployed in the district to carry out the assessments. Local representatives and the Chief District Officer have been instructed to assist with the facilitation of the process.

In Roshi Rural Municipality, 563 houses have been reported damaged. The area has been divided into three clusters for assessment. Reconstruction will proceed once technicians complete their evaluations and submit detailed reports.

Chief District Officer Umesh Kumar Dhakal expressed optimism that reconstruction efforts will now gain momentum. “With the detailed damage assessment underway, it will be easier to initiate the rebuilding of infrastructure such as private houses, bridges, embankments, and other public structures,” he said.

Dinesh Bhatta, CEO of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said victims could choose to build temporary and permanent houses simultaneously—but only after the damage assessment is complete. He noted that entering accurate data into the authority’s portal will help streamline the distribution of relief and grants.

Shiva Prasad Humagain, a central member of the Nepali Congress, emphasized the need to repair roads to Roshi before the upcoming monsoon. He also raised concerns about the remnants of the flood-damaged bridges in Falametar, warning that their collapse could further isolate the region.

The September disaster claimed 81 lives in Kavrepalanchok, with six people still missing. The floods and landslides destroyed infrastructure worth billions of rupees, including bridges, hospitals, schools, and museums. Among the 13 local levels in the district, Roshi and Bethanchowk rural municipalities, along with Panauti Municipality, suffered the most severe damage. -- RSS