Ilam. Minister for Urban Development, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kulman Ghising, has said the government was committed to forwarding works by prioritizing the rehabilitation of flood-affected areas.

Speaking at an interaction organised by the District Disaster Management Committee at the District Administration Office, Ilam, he said the rehabilitation of Ilam would be given first priority as the district has been declared a ‘crisis-hit zone’.

Minister Ghising stressed the need of cooperation among the federal, provincial and local levels in relief and reconstruction works. “This disaster is beyond our control and this time Ilam has suffered unimaginable losses. Now it is necessary to work together among all three tiers of government for relief and rehabilitation. That initiative has already started,” he said.

Minister Ghising had inspected various flood-affected areas of Ilam today itself. He inspected Maitapu of Ilam Municipality-10, Rajduwali road section of Mechi Highway and the road section from district headquarters to Milgolai which were damaged by floods and landslides last Saturday. After the inspection, Minister Ghising said that the reconstruction of damaged concrete bridges, bailey bridges and suspension bridges would be forwarded.

A total of 19 bridges, two bailey bridges and three suspension bridges have been damaged by floods and landslides in Ilam. In the landslides, 39 people have died, 26 have been injured and one is missing. According to Chief District Officer Sunita Nepal, 276 families have been displaced while 151 houses have been completely damaged and 327 houses partially damaged by the floods.