The Government of Nepal has decided to suspend the search and rescue phase following the devastating Bhotekoshi–Trishuli floods, except for essential search operations, and shift its focus toward reconstruction and rehabilitation in the affected areas.
The decision was taken at the 21st meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, held on October 5 at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
The meeting directed the concerned government agencies to accelerate reconstruction and rehabilitation while continuing essential search operations where necessary.
The decision followed recommendations from District Security Committees, District Disaster Management Committees, the Executive Committee of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), and findings from field observations in the disaster-affected areas.
The government has also moved to mobilise substantial financial resources for recovery. The meeting decided to recommend that the Ministry of Finance approve a budget of NPR 559 billion 17 crore 72 lakh 27 thousand for 504 plans and programmes submitted by various ministries and government agencies for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The funds will be managed through the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the Financial Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Regulations, 2077.
The meeting further instructed NDRRMA to recommend necessary budgetary arrangements to the Ministry of Finance after receiving details of projects whose cost estimates have not yet been determined or that have not yet been prioritised.
The decision marks a significant transition in the government’s response to the disaster that struck the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli river corridor on August 26, causing extensive loss of life, destruction of infrastructure and severe disruption to communities and economic activity.
Prime Minister Shah said disaster management efforts had been carried out through coordination among the federal, provincial and local governments since the disaster occurred. He said the same coordination mechanism would be used during the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase.
“We are mobilising the available resources and human resources to complete disaster management work as quickly as possible,” Shah told the meeting. “Therefore, I urge you to remain assured about this matter.”
Shah said the government was working to address damage caused by floods and landslides in the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli corridor, Gandaki Province and other affected areas while continuing to assess the extent of losses.
He said the government was also working to strengthen Nepal’s early warning systems to reduce future disaster risks. Measures were additionally being taken to reduce risks associated with avalanches, which have emerged as a major hazard in Nepal’s mountainous areas.
The meeting was attended by chief ministers of Gandaki, Bagmati, Madhesh and Koshi provinces, along with representatives of opposition parties, including the leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party.
The provincial leaders and opposition representatives expressed support for the government’s ongoing disaster response and recovery efforts.
The council also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property caused by the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli floods and other monsoon-related disasters. It paid tribute to those who lost their lives and conveyed condolences to their bereaved families.
The government said the transition away from broad search and rescue operations does not mean that all searches will end. Essential search operations will continue in locations where authorities believe further efforts are necessary, while the wider response will increasingly focus on rebuilding damaged infrastructure and restoring normal life.
Shah also thanked civil servants, security personnel, volunteers, political representatives and others involved in the emergency response. He praised those who continued working in difficult and dangerous conditions, often putting their own lives at risk.
The government now faces the complex task of turning the large financial commitment into practical recovery on the ground. Restoring roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, public buildings and essential services, while helping displaced and affected families rebuild their livelihoods, will be central to the next phase of the disaster response.
