Kathmandu [Nepal], September 6 – A preliminary assessment under Nepal’s Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) has found that the devastating Bhotekoshi river floods on August 26 affected about 32,933 people and damaged 7,570 houses, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday.
The floods destroyed 55 kilometers of roads, 37 motorable bridges and 68 suspension bridges while earlier estimates put damage to roads and motorable bridges at Rs 20 billion.
The disaster described as a “Himalayan Tsunami” also damaged around 1,806 hectares of agricultural land, 13 hydropower projects, a solar power plant and two transmission lines. About 783 megawatts of hydropower generation capacity has been affected.
The full RDNA report is expected by Sunday, while authorities are conducting a broader post disaster needs assessment to determine overall losses and reconstruction needs.
Nepali authorities are restoring transport, electricity and telecommunications links. The Nepali Army and engineers are working to restore the Galchhi–Trishuli road by building a temporary bridge over the Tadi river.
Meanwhile, a 15-member Australian disaster response team and an 11-member Malaysian rescue team have arrived in Nepal. Tunnel rescue teams from India, China and South Korea continue operations at affected hydropower projects.
The Foreign Ministry said 127 Nepalis stranded or affected in Tibet returned through Tatopani on Saturday.
