KATHMANDU: The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) conducted a preliminary assessment of the damage caused by three recent earthquakes, estimating the reconstruction cost at Rs 63.58 billion. The damage assessment revealed approximately Rs 58 billion worth of damage, with the reconstruction projected to exceed Rs 63.5 billion. Bharat Mani Pandey, Chief of NDRRMA's Policy, Planning, and Monitoring Division, stated that the necessary processes for reconstruction have been initiated following the preliminary study.

The earthquakes, occurring on November 3, 2023, October 3, 2023, and November 8, 2022, in Jajarkot, Bajhang, and Doti respectively, caused significant devastation. The earthquakes damaged 95,787 houses, resulting in an estimated worth of Rs 43.39 billion. Additionally, 204 school buildings, 70 government and public buildings, 11 cultural heritages, nearly 200 kilometers of road, and 121 irrigation projects were affected.

Among the three earthquakes, the Jajarkot earthquake inflicted the most substantial human and property damage, with over 86,000 houses damaged. The preliminary assessment by NDRRMA outlined a total reconstruction cost of Rs 63.58 billion, with Rs 52.46 billion allocated for private houses, government buildings, health, education, and cultural buildings, Rs 7.18 billion for other infrastructure sectors, and Rs 1.73 billion for the enterprises sector.

NDRRMA Executive Chief Anil Pokharel noted that reconstruction activities would proceed according to the approved 'Retrofitting, Reconstruction, and Resettlement Grant Procedure for Private Houses of Disaster Affected, 2081'. Beneficiaries would be categorized as 'A', 'B', and 'C', with a focus on local-level involvement in the preliminary damage assessment and beneficiary identification processes. Reconstruction is planned to be completed within two years after signing agreements between beneficiaries and ward chairpersons.