KATHMANDU: The Central Disaster Relief Committee headed by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has directed the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) to map and maintain records of the sites of historical and archaeological importance which have collapsed or are on the verge of collapse due to the April 25 earthquake.

Uttam Kumar Khatri, Spokesperson at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, said a meeting of the CDRC held at Singha Durbar yesterday also asked MoCTCA to coordinate with local bodies to remove and manage the debris of such sites.

The Ministry of Home Affairs will cooperate with MoCTCA to protect materials of historical and archaeological importance before formulating an action plan for reconstruction.

The Department of Archaeology said that around 90 per cent of temples and architecture of historical and archaeological importance were believed to have been destroyed or damaged in the major quake.

The monuments and sites within Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property, as well as several other cultural and natural heritage sites located in the area, were heavily affected due to the earthquake, according to UNESCO’s preliminary assessment.

In particular, Durbar Squares of Patan, Hanumandhoka and Bhaktapur are almost totally destroyed.

“As we receive more information from the ground, I am deeply aggrieved by the magnitude of human loss caused by the earthquake in Nepal. I am also shocked by its devastating impact on the unique cultural heritage in the country, in particular extensive and irreversible damage at the World Heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley,” said Irina Bokova, director general of UNESCO.

Nepal’s natural heritage, in particular the World Heritage site of Sagarmatha National Park, including Mount Everest, has also been severely affected by the earthquake. Minimal impact has been found in the World heritage site of Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha, and Chitwan National Park.

UNESCO has mobilised its expertise as well as international support for Nepal at this difficult time, including for safeguarding its heritage. “UNESCO is currently preparing to field an international expert mission to undertake in-depth damage assessment and to advise and provide support to the Nepalese authorities and local communities on its protection and conservation with a view to recovery,” added Irina Bokova.

The cultural heritage of the Valley is composed of seven groups of monuments and buildings representing a broad range of historical and artistic achievements for which Kathmandu Valley is famous. The seven monuments and sites include the Durbar Squares of Hanumandhoka (Kathmandu), Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swoyambhu and Bauddhanath and the Hindu temples of Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan.

Similarly, the nine-storey historical structure of Dharahara, also called Bhimsen Tower which was a part of the architecture of Kathmandu is in complete ruins. Hanumandhoka Palace Museum, which is also called Tribhuvan Museum and its premises, have suffered severe damage.

According to officials, Shiva Parvati Temple, Bishnu Temple, Taleju Temple, Kasthamandap and Kumari Ghar, among other historical and archaeological structures, have been damaged by the earthquake. Parts of temples in Sundhara, Tyagal and Gabahal in Patan and Shilu Mahadev Temple and the Fifty-Five Windows Palace in Bhaktapur, and Jayabageshwori Temple and Matrikeshwor Mahadev Temple in the middle of Ranipokhari have collapsed.