Kathmandu, 29 August (H.S.): The Nepal government has decided to declare 15 local administrative bodies across five districts severely affected by flooding in the Bhotekoshi area of Rasuwa as ‘disaster crisis zones’.

The government has decided to designate a total of 15 local bodies — four in Rasuwa, four in Nuwakot, four in Dhading, two in Tanahun and one in Gorkha — as disaster crisis zones for a period of three months.

The disaster crisis zones in Rasuwa include Uttargaya Rural Municipality, Gosaikunda Rural Municipality, Kalika Rural Municipality and Aamachhodingmo Rural Municipality.

Similarly, in Nuwakot district, Bidur Municipality, Belkotgadhi Municipality, Kispang Rural Municipality and Tarkeshwar Rural Municipality have been included in the list of areas to be declared disaster crisis zones.

In addition, Galchhi Rural Municipality, Siddhalek Rural Municipality, Gajuri Rural Municipality and Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality in Dhading; Devghat Rural Municipality and Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality in Tanahun; and Gandaki Rural Municipality in Gorkha have also been designated as disaster crisis zones.

A notice published in the Nepal Gazette stated that the decision was taken following extensive damage to local bodies in these districts caused by the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi-Lhende area along the Nepal-China border.

The declaration of these areas as disaster crisis zones will provide the government with greater legal and administrative flexibility to prioritise and expedite relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the affected regions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar