Kathmandu. An initial assessment of the damage caused by the flood that entered Nepal via Tibet on August 26 has emerged. This disaster has shaken Nepal to its roots. While bodies are still being found, the government presented a preliminary figure of damage to infrastructure in a parliamentary committee. It was told that trade through China Naka has come to a complete standstill due to which there has been a big impact on the revenue. In this report, details of other damages including roads, bridges, schools, hydropower projects are also given.
In this report from the Nepal Finance Ministry, it was told that the supply from the northern border has been disrupted due to the devastating floods in Rasuwa and road subsidence in Krishnabhir. Finance Secretary Dr. Ghanshyam Upadhyay said that due to flood at Rasuwagadhi border crossing, the supplies from China had come to a complete halt. Due to this there has been a big impact on customs revenue.
In the meeting of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, Upadhyay said that the government had deployed additional staff at Korala border crossing to streamline imports as an alternative to Rasuwagadhi. But the situation became more serious after the road caved in Krishnabhir and the supply route also got disrupted.
Upadhyay said that 55 km stretch of Betravati-Rasuvagadi road has been completely destroyed in the flood. The four kilometer stretch of Galchi-Devighat road has been partially damaged. Similarly, the 10 kilometer long Devighat-Trishuli-Betravati road has also been partially damaged.
This terrible disaster has also had a huge impact on bridges. Upadhyay said that 33 bridges in four districts were completely destroyed, while four other bridges were partially damaged. Apart from this, 68 suspension bridges have also been damaged. He said the total length of the damaged motorable bridges is about 3,000 metres.
Apart from transportation, the disaster has had a widespread impact on other sectors as well. According to the Finance Secretary, 17 branches of 12 banks in the financial sector have been completely or partially damaged. About 4,800 commercial establishments have also been completely destroyed by the disaster. He said that the education sector has also suffered a big loss. In the flood that occurred on August 26, 56 buildings of 18 schools were completely destroyed, in which there were a total of 308 classrooms.
According to the Finance Secretary, a total of 7,570 private buildings have been completely or partially damaged. At the same time, 48 government buildings were damaged, out of which 35 were completely destroyed. There has also been loss in the agricultural sector. 1,806 hectares of agricultural land has been affected by the flood. Upadhyay said that 13 hydropower projects and 25 irrigation projects have also been affected.
According to a detailed assessment, the floods have caused serious damage to 1,259 hotels and restaurants, 1,212 wholesale and retail businesses and 345 power, gas and water projects. Similarly, 263 manufacturing industries and 227 activities related to service sector have also been seriously affected. Finance Secretary Upadhyay also informed that the Prime Minister's Relief Fund is continuously receiving financial support from within Nepal and abroad.
Let us tell you that during the rescue operation to safely rescue the people trapped in the tunnel in Chilime area of Nepal, the Indian Army has intensified the work of preparing an alternative access route to reach the blocked part of the tunnel.