KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 16
An all-party meeting convened today at the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Parliamentary Party Office in Singha Durbar, led by RSP President Rabi Lamichhane, yielded three major decisions regarding reconstruction and rehabilitation following the catastrophic Bhotekoshi floods.
The August 26 disaster caused severe loss of life and extensive infrastructure damage across riverine settlements in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Tanahun.
Amid mounting criticism over the government's initial search, rescue and relief response, leaders agreed to request the speaker of the House of Representatives to form a Special Parliamentary Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Drawing on lessons from the Bhotekoshi disaster, the panel will be tasked with providing a policy roadmap to prevent future casualties. Party representation on the committee will mirror proportional seat counts in Parliament, with its exact terms of reference to be finalised by the House.
RSP Spokesperson Jagadish Kharel stated that the committee will collaborate with and monitor coordination among the government, parliament and stakeholders. Its focus will include reconstructing sustainable post-disaster infrastructure, strengthening preparedness, enhancing early warning systems and pursuing stronger climate diplomacy. The panel will also review existing disaster legislation and recommend necessary legislative changes.
The meeting also agreed to maintain the cross-party high-level political mechanism chaired by Lamichhane to ensure sustained political consensus on reconstruction and disaster management.
According to the latest update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the disaster has claimed 1,403 lives, with 6,150 individuals still reported missing.
Nepali Communist Party Co-coordinator and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said political leaders agreed to request the speaker to form the oversight committee within a week.
Addressing operational challenges, Lamichhane emphasised that state and party roles in this crisis should not follow past precedent. Citing the technical complexity of the geological collapse, he called for scientific, expert-led investigations to guide policy. He added that while difficult terrain caused initial logistical friction, relief operations are ongoing as ministries shift focus towards long-term reconstruction and safe resettlement.
CPN-UML Parliamentary Party Deputy Leader Padma Aryal noted that the meeting reviewed state relief measures and agreed to extend political coordination mechanisms down to the local level.
Finally, the meeting formulated key recommendations for Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah ahead of his departure on September 22 for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Spokesperson Kharel noted that ruling and opposition leaders jointly urged the prime minister to highlight evidence of climate impacts on the Himalayan region and aggressively pursue loss-and-damage compensation under UN climate frameworks.
Key attendees included Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa, Nepali Communist Party Co-coordinator Nepal, CPN-UML Deputy Leader Aryal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Leader Gyan Bahadur Shahi and Janamat Party Chairperson CK Raut.