Kathmandu. The massive avalanche in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on Wednesday morning has caused a loss of Rs 1.90 billion in the infrastructure sector. According to the ‘Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment’ report prepared by the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, it is estimated that Rs 473.57 billion will be required to recover the damage caused by the floods.

According to the report, 13 hydropower projects with a total capacity of 759.025 MW have been affected due to floods in the power sector. This includes five solar plants with a capacity of 24.36 MW. The report said that one substation, three transmission lines, one switchyard and one distribution line have been damaged due to the floods. The total loss in the energy sector is estimated to be Rs. 151.04 billion. It is estimated that Rs. 390.62 billion will be required to revive the sector.

Domestic renewable energy has also suffered major damage. Of these, 2,450 solar home systems, 2740 biogas systems, 13 institutional solar systems, 92 kilowatts of micro hydropower, 185 water mills and 795 cooking stoves have been damaged. Domestic renewable energy has suffered a loss of Rs 560 million and it will cost Rs 1.64 billion to revive it.

It is estimated that 69 km of roads have been damaged due to the floods. Of these, 55 km have been completely damaged, according to the report. Also, 150 meters of the Krishnabhir area of the Prithvi Highway has been damaged. The road infrastructure has been damaged to the tune of Rs 23.42 billion. It is estimated that Rs 55.18 billion will be required for the restoration of the area.

Due to the floods, 33 motorable bridges have been washed away and four have been partially damaged. Similarly, out of 64 suspension bridges in the flood-affected areas, 53 have been damaged. Thirty-three suspension bridges have been completely damaged. The bridge alone has been damaged to the tune of Rs 11.35 billion and Rs 18.16 billion will be required for restoration.

In the communication sector, the BTS towers of Nepal Telecom were also damaged. 27 towers of Ncell and 38 of Nepal Telecom were affected. Most of them have been restored. The floods affected 152.3 km of fibre cable and two transmission systems, FTTH÷ISPs. The area suffered a loss of about Rs 63 crore and it is estimated that Rs 94 crore will be required for restoration.

Similarly, the water and sanitation sector has been damaged to the tune of Rs 1.38 billion and it is estimated that Rs 2.07 billion will be required to reconstruct it. The floods have affected 16 wells, 98 intakes, 160 tanks and 443.9 km of pipelines.

According to the report, 4,990 metres of river conservation, 700 hectares of irrigation and six water surface measurement stations have been affected. About Rs 1.65 billion has been damaged in the area and Rs 4.94 billion is estimated to be required for restoration.