Bhotekoshi Flood: 677 Transport Workers Out of Contact, 515 Trucks and Containers Missing
As many as 677 transport workers are out of contact and 515 trucks and containers are missing in the Bhotekoshi flood. The Nepal Truck Transport Entrepreneurs' Federation released preliminary details, warning the toll could rise further. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development has formed a committee to submit a report within 15 days to determine the basis for compensation.
Kathmandu — 677 transport workers are out of contact and 515 trucks and containers are missing in the Bhotekoshi flood. The Nepal Truck Transport Entrepreneurs' Federation released this preliminary information at a meeting held on Thursday under the coordination of Rajiv Pokharel, Director General of the Department of Transport Management.
According to the Federation, the number of missing workers and vehicles could rise further. The Federation stated that the final figures may differ as a full assessment of the human and physical damage caused by the flood has not yet been completed.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development has formed a committee, again coordinated by Director General Pokharel, to prepare a report with recommendations on assessing the human and physical damage from the flood and the basis for compensation. The committee has been tasked with submitting its report within 15 days.
The committee includes the following members:
- A representative from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development
- A representative from the secretariat of the Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development
- A representative of transport entrepreneurs
- A representative of transport workers' unions and organizations
- Rajendra Bikram Baniya, President of the Nepal Truck Transport Entrepreneurs' Federation
- Badri Prasad Chaulagain, General Secretary of the Federation
The committee will assess the damage and determine the basis for providing compensation to victims. Voices are growing for further steps to rescue, relieve, and rehabilitate transport workers and entrepreneurs affected by the flood.