Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal has pledged that roads and private homes damaged by floods and landslides in western Baglung will be rebuilt soon, identifying the restoration of the damaged Mid-Hill Lokmarg as the government's top priority. Speaking on Friday after inspecting disaster-affected areas of the district, the minister said plans are also moving ahead to construct safe housing for families left homeless by the disasters, while the first installment of a Rs 15,000 monthly relief payment for victims is already in the disbursement stage, according to Nagarik News.
On-site inspection of disaster-hit western Baglung
Lamsal travelled to western Baglung on Friday to see the destruction firsthand, walking through areas battered by floods and landslides that have damaged key infrastructure and private residences. The inspection visit was aimed at assessing the scale of the damage so that reconstruction work can begin without further delay.
During the visit, the minister told officials and local journalists that the government is treating the rehabilitation of the affected corridor as an urgent national responsibility. He said the commitment is not merely an announcement, but a plan already in motion, as reported by Ratopati.
Baglung, a hilly district in western Nepal, is among the areas where monsoon-season floods and landslides routinely sever roads, damage homes and isolate settlements. When a strategic route such as the Mid-Hill Lokmarg is put out of operation, villages can lose their main connection to markets, hospitals and administrative centres, which is why its reconstruction has been placed at the top of the government's response list.
Mid-Hill Lokmarg reconstruction first in line
The minister made it clear that the damaged stretch of the Mid-Hill Lokmarg will be rebuilt as the first order of business. The Mid-Hill Highway is one of Nepal's major mid-hill corridors, threading through hill districts and serving as a lifeline for communities that have few alternative routes. Damage to a section of this road therefore carries consequences far beyond the immediate site, affecting transport, trade and access to services across the surrounding region.
By pledging quick reconstruction of the highway, Lamsal signalled that the government intends to restore mobility for the affected communities before the damage deepens into longer-term disruption. He said the reconstruction of the damaged road and related works will be completed soon, according to the reports of his statements during the inspection.
The minister's commitments from the visit centre on three immediate actions:
- Reconstruction of the damaged Mid-Hill Lokmarg, described as the top priority of the government's response.
- Building safe housing for families who lost their homes to the floods and landslides.
- Disbursement of the first installment of Rs 15,000 in monthly relief for disaster victims.
Safe housing for families left homeless
Beyond the road, Lamsal said the government is moving ahead with plans to build safe housing for those who were rendered homeless by the floods and landslides. For families whose houses were damaged or swept away, the pledge of safe housing addresses one of the most pressing needs in the aftermath of the disasters.
The minister framed the housing plan as part of the broader reconstruction commitment, stressing that the process will be completed soon. In hill districts like Baglung, where steep terrain and monsoon rains combine to heighten landslide risk, the emphasis on safe housing also points to the need for rebuilt homes that can better withstand future disasters.
Rs 15,000 monthly relief on its way to victims
A key announcement from Friday's inspection concerned direct support for disaster victims. Lamsal said the first installment of Rs 15,000 in monthly relief is in the disbursement stage, meaning the process of channelling the funds to affected families is already underway.
The move takes the relief programme from announcement to implementation. For the households hit by the floods and landslides, the monthly payment is intended to help cover immediate living costs while reconstruction of homes and infrastructure proceeds. The fact that the first installment is being processed suggests the government is trying to ensure that victims receive tangible support in the early phase of recovery, rather than waiting until longer-term rebuilding is complete.
The minister combined this relief update with his assurances on roads and housing to present a coordinated picture of the recovery effort: restore the vital highway, resettle displaced families in safe homes, and get cash support into the hands of victims. All three elements, he said, are part of a plan that will be completed soon.
The pledges made in western Baglung will now be measured against delivery on the ground. With the Mid-Hill Lokmarg's reconstruction declared the top priority, safe housing plans advancing and relief money in the disbursement stage, affected communities in the district will be watching how quickly these commitments turn into rebuilt roads, finished homes and funds received.
