Key Takeaways:
- Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods caused Rs 79.17 billion in private losses
- More than 6,800 families and 499 businesses were affected
- Land and housing accounted for the largest share of damages
- Nearly 3,000 homes suffered complete destruction
The devastating floods that struck the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system on August 26 caused an estimated Rs 79.17 billion in losses to households and businesses, exposing the enormous private-sector cost of one of Nepal's most destructive flood disasters in recent years.
A preliminary assessment by the National Planning Commission found that private households accounted for Rs 69 billion in losses, while businesses and enterprises suffered an additional Rs 9.69 billion in damage.
The largest losses were linked to land and housing. Floods damaged residential land worth Rs 13.26 billion and destroyed or damaged houses valued at Rs 11.95 billion. Another 507.97 hectares of privately owned land belonging to 3,610 families was damaged, causing losses estimated at Rs 35.44 billion.
The disaster also devastated livelihoods. Crops belonging to 2,951 families were damaged, resulting in losses of more than Rs 232 million, while damage to food storage facilities, livestock and fisheries caused additional losses. Vehicles worth Rs 1.24 billion were destroyed or damaged, affecting more than 1,100 households.
The survey further found that 6,817 families, 32,872 individuals and 499 businesses were affected across the four hardest-hit districts of Dhading, Gorkha, Nuwakot and Rasuwa. A total of 2,989 homes sustained complete damage.
Officials described the findings as preliminary and said assessments were carried out using digital surveys conducted by 58 field teams deployed across 15 local levels in the affected districts.
The figures highlight the enormous recovery challenge facing communities devastated by the floods, with losses extending far beyond public infrastructure and into homes, farmland, livelihoods and businesses.