Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has called for proposals from interested partner organizations to construct transitional shelters for thousands of families displaced by the devastating Bhote Koshi flood. The deadline for submitting proposals is Kartik 28 (BS), corresponding to October 14, 2026. This comes as the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management has recommended a budget of Rs 559.17 billion (over $4.2 billion) for reconstruction and rehabilitation projects.
Call for transitional shelter proposals
The NDRRMA, Nepal’s central body for natural disaster risk reduction and management, issued a public notice inviting organizations to submit proposals for building transitional shelters in the flood-affected local levels of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts. These shelters must adhere to standards approved by the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, the central body responsible for urban development, housing, and building construction in Nepal.Organizations submitting proposals must clearly specify the number of transitional shelters they intend to build, their proposed construction sites, and the names of the relevant local levels. Additionally, proposals must include a detailed work plan with estimated start and completion dates for the construction. Any prior agreements for transitional shelter construction in the affected areas must also be disclosed in the proposal. Interested partner organizations are required to coordinate closely with the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction and the respective local levels to proceed with the construction work.
Impact and reconstruction efforts
The catastrophic flood on Bhadra 10 (BS) (August 26, 2026), caused by a massive rock and ice landslide from Langtang Lirung that dammed the Lhende stream, unleashed a destructive debris flow down the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Some sources also suggest a glacial lake outburst in Tibet contributed to the flood. The disaster severely impacted 15 local levels across districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading. Market areas and settlements such as Timure, Syaphrubesi, Khalte, Betrawati, and Trishuli were reduced to rubble.In response to the widespread destruction, Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened discussions with chiefs and representatives from various local levels in Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Dhading. The National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, chaired by Prime Minister Shah, approved a budget of Rs 559.17 billion (over $4.2 billion) for 504 reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli flood-affected areas. This recommendation has been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for approval.The Nepal Insurance Authority has implemented the ‘Rasuwa Flood Claim Payment Brief Procedure, 2083’ to expedite claim settlements for affected policyholders. Insurance companies have reported claims totaling Rs 20.98 billion. Anjan Shrestha, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, has called for relief and bailout measures for flood-affected businesses and is preparing a comprehensive report on private sector losses for the government.
Background and ongoing response
Following the initial disaster, the Nepali Army deployed 14 helicopters and special disaster management teams to enhance search and rescue operations. The government formally concluded its search for missing persons on Ashwin 14 (BS) (September 30, 2026), shifting its focus towards recovery and rehabilitation efforts.According to details released by Nepal Police, as of Ashwin 21 (BS) (October 7, 2026), a total of 1,457 bodies have been recovered, while 4,720 individuals remain missing. Among the missing, 403 were tourists in Rasuwa, comprising 341 foreign nationals and 62 Nepalis. To aid identification, 3,418 DNA samples have been collected from both deceased individuals (1,336) and their relatives (2,082). So far, 1,334 bodies have been managed through safe burial.The flood also destroyed dozens of motorable and suspension bridges connecting Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts. Intensive work is underway to install Bailey bridges in various locations, with the aim of restoring obstructed roads and bridges by the end of Ashwin (BS).For more details on the initial impact of the flood, please refer to our earlier coverage: Bhote Koshi flood: 1,457 dead, 4,720 missing; Authority calls for temporary housing.
Next steps and unanswered questions
The deadline of Kartik 28 (BS) for proposal submissions is expected to accelerate the construction of temporary shelters. The overall pace of reconstruction will largely depend on the timely approval and implementation of the Rs 559.17 billion budget recommended to the Ministry of Finance. A Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report is being prepared to evaluate the overall damage, and support from development partners, including the Asian Development Bank, is being mobilized for rehabilitation and reconstruction.Dr. Dharma Raj Upreti, Executive Chief of the NDRRMA, has urged the government to make “bold decisions” without delay to relocate settlements at risk from future floods to safer areas.Several questions remain unanswered, including the precise total number of temporary shelters required and the specific budget allocated for their construction. The scientific cause and official naming of the flood are still under discussion by a government expert committee. Furthermore, the timeline for the approval and implementation of the recommended reconstruction budget, as well as the progress of the insurance claim payment procedure, are yet to be fully clarified.
