KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 12

Firefighters have been deployed to extinguish the blaze that engulfed the buildings housing the Department of Roads and the Department of Transport under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The fire, ignited during Tuesday's Gen Z demonstrations, spared the Ministry's main building but completely gutted the two departmental offices, according to Ministry spokesperson Bhimarjun Adhikari. 'Flames are still visible inside the buildings,' he said.

Fire crews from Lalitpur Metropolitan City have been mobilized to bring the situation under control. In addition to the buildings, vehicles belonging to both departments were also set ablaze. Adhikari noted that the extent of the damage is yet to be determined, with a full assessment to follow.

Several administrative buildings inside Singha Durbar, the federal government's administrative hub, were reduced to ashes. Among them were structures of both artistic and historic value, as well as those reconstructed after the 2015 earthquake.

Observers stressed that the destruction of documents within these offices is immeasurable.

During the demonstrations, several key state institutions-including the Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, the Kathmandu District Court, the Special Court, and the Shital Niwas-were also targeted and set on fire.

Employees stationed within the Singha Durbar premises have already begun cleanup operations.

Chief Secretary Eknarayan Aryal, after inspecting the wreckage, described the devastation as 'massive and irreparable,' adding that compiling a full account of the losses will take considerable time.

(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)