HETAUDA | The Bagmati Province government has decided to immediately provide Rs 30 million to local disaster management funds for rescue and relief operations in districts affected by the Bhote Koshi–Trishuli floods.
Of the total amount, Rs 20 million will be provided to the disaster management funds of the affected local units in Rasuwa and Nuwakot. Dhading and Chitwan will receive Rs 5 million each.
Chief Minister Kiran Thapa Magar said the government would also provide immediate financial assistance of Rs 25,000 per deceased person to help families cover funeral expenses.
The provincial government will bear the cost of transporting rescued people and identified bodies to their respective home addresses. The money will be transferred from the Provincial Disaster Management Fund to the disaster management funds of the concerned local units, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Saral Sahayatri Paudel said.
Paudel urged the families of rescued people and identified victims to contact their local representatives for transportation arrangements. Local governments can coordinate with the provincial government for the required funds and logistical support, he said.
The Nepal Army and Nepal Police are conducting aerial rescue operations in flood-affected areas, with injured people and those stranded in high-risk locations receiving priority. Food and other relief supplies will also be delivered by air in coordination with local governments.
According to the provincial government’s preliminary assessment, the floods have swept away around 40 concrete and suspension bridges. Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development and government spokesperson Bharat KC said temporary suspension bridges and rope crossings would be installed where permanent structures could not be built immediately.
The government has also started coordinating with the Department of Roads and the Nepal Army to install Bailey bridges at necessary locations. Alternative roads are being repaired after flooding disrupted the Trishuli–Dhunche and Galchhi–Kathmandu routes.
Chief Minister Thapa Magar said arrangements were being made to safely transport more than 1,500 pilgrims from the Gosaikunda area. The provincial government has also mobilised health workers and available resources at hospitals under its jurisdiction.
