A meeting of government secretaries has directed ministries and agencies to immediately intensify search, rescue and relief operations following the devastating Bhote Koshi River flood, while also taking steps to restore damaged infrastructure and essential public services. The meeting expressed condolences over the loss of life caused by the August 26 disaster in Rasuwa, along the Bhote Koshi River and downstream Trishuli areas, and extended sympathies to bereaved families.
The meeting instructed concerned ministries and agencies to immediately begin reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the flood and restore public services. Search, rescue, relief and temporary shelter for affected and at-risk people are to be treated as the highest priority. Ministries and agencies were also directed to mobilise their available resources and manpower in coordination with concerned authorities and to ensure regular delivery of government and public services in disaster-affected areas.
The meeting also decided that civil servants would contribute specified amounts from their monthly salaries to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. Employees at the Secretary and Special Class level will contribute seven days’ salary, gazetted first and special class officials five days’ salary, gazetted second and third class officials three days’ salary, and other employees two days’ salary. The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers will coordinate the collection, which is expected to generate around Rs 360 million from federal government employees. Employees of public institutions and other government levels have also been called upon to make similar voluntary contributions.
To maintain effective disaster response and uninterrupted public services, ministries and agencies have been instructed to manage shifts and temporary arrangements where necessary. Employees involved in disaster management are not to be assigned unnecessary office work or granted leave during the response period. Federal ministries and agencies have also been asked not to unnecessarily summon provincial and local government employees to Kathmandu for meetings, seminars, training or similar programmes, allowing personnel to remain focused on service delivery and disaster-response responsibilities in their respective areas.
