Kathmandu [Nepal], Oct 27 – Floods that struck Nepal’s Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system on August 26 caused losses worth 79.17 billion Nepali rupees ($521 million) to households and businesses, according to a preliminary survey by the National Planning Commission.
A total of 6,817 families or 32,872 people were affected by the floods across four districts. The disaster also affected 499 businesses while 2,989 residential structures were completely destroyed.
Nuwakot recorded the highest number of affected households at 3,841 followed by Rasuwa with 1,920, Dhading with 948 and Gorkha with 108.
The floods damaged 507.97 hectares of land owned by 3,610 families, causing estimated losses of 35.44 billion rupees. Damage to residential plots accounted for another 13.26 billion rupees while the cost of damage to houses was estimated at 11.95 billion rupees.
Agricultural losses included 232.1 million rupees in damaged crops affecting 2,951 families and 104.01 million rupees in food storage losses affecting 1,876 families. Damage to livestock and fisheries was estimated at 214.02 million rupees, affecting 1,011 families.
The disaster also caused an estimated 1.24 billion rupees in vehicle losses, affecting 1,115 families. A further 5 billion rupees in losses were recorded from damage to valuable objects including items of cultural and archaeological significance, affecting 2,330 families.
The preliminary assessment covered 15 local administrative units across Dhading, Gorkha, Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts. The National Planning Commission deployed 58 teams comprising 156 staff members, who collected data using tablets and an online application.
The figures are preliminary estimates of the economic damage caused by the floods.
