KATHMANDU: Flood victims in the Bhote Koshi region are set to be relocated to temporary housing within six months. Dharma Raj Uprety, executive chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, stated that work is underway with a goal to construct and hand over permanent housing to the affected families within three years.

The plan involves providing temporary shelter to 5,116 families across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Gorkha, and Dhading before permanent arrangements are finalized. The government has decided to provide relief of Rs 15,000 per month for five months to affected households. Families with more than four members will receive an additional Rs 2,000 for each extra member. Furthermore, a process is underway to provide financial assistance of Rs 45,000 for the next three months to the affected families.

Speaking at an event organized by the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists, Professor Sanjay Uprety from the Institute of Engineering emphasized that rehabilitation efforts must consider social, economic, and cultural aspects alongside disaster and engineering factors.

Local residents expressed deep concerns regarding their future. Chedin Dolma, a resident of Timure, stated that victims are still suffering from the psychological trauma caused by the disaster. Another local, Namgyal Ghale, said they remain completely displaced with no clear destination for relocation.

Purwu Dorje, headmaster of Nepal National Basic School in Timure, reported that 10 students went missing during the flood and the school building was completely destroyed, leaving the future of the school and the local educational environment uncertain. Nirajan Paudel, a journalist from Rasuwa, stated that he lost five family members, including his parents, in the flood and complained that he has not received any relief even 50 days after the incident.