An open letter to the king of Bhutan

His Majesty the King of Bhutan  Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu Your Majesty, On the auspicious occasion of the 117th National Day

Turmoil in Syria: Can Nepal offer any lesson?

Sudden, unexpected events at international levels can change your plans. This is what happened to me when I was preparing

International Volunteer Day| What Nepal can do to promote volunteerism

Today is the International Volunteer Day. It should be a big celebration but unfortunately this whole week and the next

Nexus between climate change and environment

Climate study helps to forecast several outcomes, including the volume of rainfall that the current climate may generate and the

Shaping Nepal’s development: A note on MCC, BRI, and the need for a unified foreign policy

Nepal stands at a significant crossroads in its developmental journey. At a time when the country aims to implement large-scale

Floods, landslides in Nepal claim 224 lives, damage properties worth Rs 17 billion

Transportation networks have been particularly hard-hit, with 37 highways disrupted due to the flooding and landslides.

Photo: Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

Kathmandu: Floods and landslides in Nepal have resulted in the death of 224 people, with 24 still missing and 158 injured. 

The natural disaster has inflicted widespread destruction, causing property damage worth Rs 17 billion.

According to Ek Narayan Aryal, Chief Secretary of the government of Nepal, the floods and landslides have severely impacted various sectors across the country. Drinking water projects have suffered losses worth Rs 3.55 billion, while road projects have been damaged to the tune of Rs 2.52 billion. Also, hydroelectric projects have sustained losses of around Rs 4 billion, and irrigation projects have been affected with damages estimated at Rs 1 billion.

Transportation networks have been particularly hard-hit, with 37 highways disrupted due to the flooding and landslides. While nine of these highways have been reopened, the remaining routes are yet to be cleared. 

The disaster also damaged five transmission lines and destroyed 16 hydro projects with a total capacity of 667 MW.

The agricultural sector has not been spared, suffering losses of Rs 6 billion, which includes significant damage to crops and livestock.