Kathmandu, Sept. 4 (SANA) Catastrophic floods that struck Nepal last month caused at least $2.56 billion in damage to homes, property and infrastructure, a senior disaster management official said Friday.
Dharma Raj Upreti, head of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said losses were estimated at 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees, Reuters reported.
The first four months of early recovery are expected to cost another $52.6 million, covering road reconstruction, temporary shelters, drinking water supplies and the restoration of electricity.
“These are estimated amounts, and we calculated them in coordination with the various relevant agencies and departments,” Upreti said, adding that a more detailed assessment would follow.
Nepal will need to rebuild about 20,000 homes in affected areas, Upreti said Thursday. At least 7,500 houses were completely destroyed.
The disaster began on Aug. 26 when an avalanche sent a torrent of ice, rocks and mud down the Trishuli River along the Nepal-China border, devastating towns and villages.
More than 1,250 people have been killed and over 4,200 remain missing, while thousands have been displaced.
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