Prime Minister Balen Shah and Chief of Army Staff Ashokraj Sigdel held an hour-long meeting on Thursday, discussing contemporary issues and the country’s security situation.
The high-level meeting took place at the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers’ Office in Singha Durbar, the main administrative centre of the Nepal government. While the detailed discussions were not made public, the meeting is seen as a regular engagement between top political and military leadership amid the latest political and security circumstances.
The discussion comes as the government announced a shift in its response to the devastating Bhote Koshi flood, moving from ‘search and rescue’ to ‘search and rehabilitation’ operations. The Nepali Army, Nepal’s national army, has played a decisive role in the search, rescue, and relief efforts following the disaster.
Bhote Koshi flood impact and relief efforts
The catastrophic Bhote Koshi River flood, which occurred on August 26, 2026 (Bhadra 10, 2083 BS), caused extensive human and material damage in districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Nepal’s governmental body responsible for disaster risk reduction and management, as of Thursday, October 1, 2026 (Ashoj 15, 2083 BS), 5,285 people are still missing, and 1,454 bodies or human remains have been recovered, with only 112 identified.
The estimated damage and loss from the flood exceed Rs 408.28 billion, while reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts are projected to require Rs 723.31 billion. As of September 30, 2026 (Ashoj 14, 2083 BS), the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund and Prime Minister’s Relief Fund have accumulated over Rs 16.15 billion.
The government officially announced the transition from ‘search and rescue’ to ‘search and rehabilitation’ on September 26, 2026 (Ashoj 10, 2083 BS). This decision was formally approved by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Executive Committee, a body responsible for disaster management, on September 30, 2026 (Ashoj 14, 2083 BS), chaired by Home Minister Sudhan Gurung. The shift was made due to the low probability of finding survivors after a prolonged period and the absence of individuals trapped in tunnels or other areas.
Future actions and parliamentary agenda
While search operations for missing persons will continue in essential areas, the primary focus will now be on rehabilitation. The Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, which handles legal and parliamentary matters, is working on amending laws related to declaring missing persons as deceased or equivalent. A committee formed by the Ministry of Land Management, responsible for land administration, has identified suitable land for temporary housing in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading, with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, which oversees infrastructure projects, set to lead construction with partner organisations.
In a move to support flood victims, the Nepal Insurance Authority, the regulatory body for the insurance sector, has issued the ‘Rasuwa Flood Claim Payment Procedure, 2083’, allowing for up to 50% advance payment for damages to insured property and vehicles.
Separately, on Thursday, October 1, 2026 (Ashoj 15, 2083 BS), the House of Representatives, the lower house of the federal parliament, is scheduled to receive the ‘National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission’s Eighth Annual Report, 2083’ and the ‘Indigenous Nationalities Commission’s Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2080/081’, both to be presented by Prime Minister Balen Shah or, on his behalf, by Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobita Gautam. The National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission is a constitutional body that allocates resources, while the Indigenous Nationalities Commission works for the rights of indigenous communities.
Unanswered questions remain
Despite the high-level meeting, detailed discussions between Prime Minister Shah and Chief of Army Staff Sigdel have not been disclosed. Furthermore, the exact number of individuals missing from the Bhote Koshi flood remains uncertain, and many recovered bodies are yet to be identified. The long-term funding sources and implementation timeline for the estimated Rs 723.31 billion required for reconstruction and rehabilitation also await clarification.
