The Bagmati Province government has requested Rs 1 billion from the federal government for the reconstruction of physical infrastructure damaged by the devastating Bhote Koshi flood. The decision was made by the provincial cabinet on Thursday, September 30, 2026.
Bharat Bahadur KC, Bagmati Province spokesperson and Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development, announced the cabinet’s decision to seek the grant for damaged infrastructure within the province.
Separately, Our Sunshine School Foundation donated Rs 2.5 million for flood victims’ relief and rehabilitation. Divesh Khatri, secretary of Our Sunshine School Foundation and school principal, handed over a cheque for the amount to Dr. Bikram Timilsina, Minister for Information and Communications. The funds will be deposited into the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. Minister Timilsina thanked the foundation, stating that the government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah is prioritizing relief and rehabilitation for flood victims. The donation was collected from teachers, staff, and members of the organization.
Widespread devastation from Bhote Koshi flood
The catastrophic Bhote Koshi flood, which occurred suddenly on Bhadra 10, 2083 (August 26, 2026) in Rasuwa, caused extensive human and physical damage in districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading.
As of 5 AM on October 1, 2026, 1,454 bodies have been recovered, and 4,718 people remain missing.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Nepal’s disaster management body, the flood caused an estimated damage and loss exceeding Rs 408.28 billion.
An estimated Rs 723.31 billion will be required for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.
Specific damages include 7,570 private homes, 48 public buildings, 18 schools, 7 health facilities, and 30 cultural heritage sites. Additionally, thirteen hydropower projects with a capacity of 759 megawatts and five solar plants totaling 24 megawatts were affected.
Sixty-nine kilometers of road sections were damaged, and out of 37 motorable bridges affected, 33 were washed away. Seventeen bank branches and 4,800 commercial establishments were also impacted.
Relief efforts and international support
Security personnel are deployed in affected areas for search, rescue, relief distribution, and body management. The Nepal Red Cross has been providing shelter, non-food items, food, drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services to flood-affected individuals.
The international community has pledged support, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) committing a 5 million US dollar grant, the World Bank a 167 million US dollar concessional loan, the US government 500,000 US dollars in cash, and the Australian government 5 million Australian dollars.
Insurance companies have received claims totaling Rs 20.98 billion for damages from the August 26 flood. The Nepal Insurance Authority, Nepal’s insurance regulatory body, has implemented the ‘Rasuwa Flood Claim Payment Procedure, 2083’ to expedite and streamline claim settlements.
The federal government’s decision on Bagmati Province’s request for Rs 1 billion in grants is still pending. No specific timeline has been set for the federal government to approve the grant and release funds. A detailed plan for managing the total estimated damage and the significant reconstruction costs has not yet been made public. The status of missing persons, including three local representatives from Gosaikunda Rural Municipality in Rasuwa, remains unknown.
