Kagbeni flood's damage amounts to Rs. 1 billion: Report

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi, Aug. 24: A detailed report on the damage by the flood in Kagbeni, a religious site in Mustang district, has been made public. 

The flood in the Kag River on August 13 damaged several structures in Ward No. 4 of Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality. Authorities informed that the Kag River saw an unprecedented flood after its associate Tiri River got jammed. 

Making the damage report public on Tuesday, the rural municipality informed that the flood caused damage worth around a billion rupees.

"The damage report was prepared with the help of the rural municipality's disaster management committee, security personnel and Nepal Red Cross," said Rinzin Namgel Gurung, Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality's Chairperson.

She added, "The damage in public and private properties alongside those staying in rent was collected. As per the report, over Rs. 818 million worth of cash and private structure was damaged."

"The damage in public properties including bridge, temple, monastery, police office and embankment was worth Rs. 210 million," said Gurung.

The flood damaged 50 personal houses. Of them, 22 houses were completely destroyed. The flood also killed 24 cows and a horse and damaged 19 two-wheelers and three four-wheelers.

The flood has also turned more than 45 ropanis land of 18 farmers into sandy beaches. The report also states that 274 apple trees were destroyed.

"Locals and government bodies have united and are reconstructing Kagbeni. Locals from Jomsom are also arriving to lend assistance in the reconstruction. We are also thankful to individuals and organisations sending relief items and economic support," said Chairperson Gurung.

Beni-Jomsom road opens

Meanwhile, the vehicular movement has resumed on the Beni-Jomsom road after the obstructions in Dana, an area along the road, were removed after five days.

The section was obstructed after more than 50 landslides fell along the road from Narchyang Bridge to Dana's Kavrebhir.