Ilam suffers NRs 11.81 billion in damages from October monsoon-triggered disasters

Floods and landslides triggered by continuous rainfall on October 4 and 5 have caused property damage worth NRs 11.81 billion in Ilam district, according to the District Administration Office.

Chief District Officer Sunita Nepal said the destruction has affected roads, bridges, buildings, irrigation systems, drinking water supply, agriculture, livestock, power, and communication infrastructure across all ten local levels. The preliminary assessment was compiled through reports from 11 sectoral offices in coordination with local governments.

The largest losses occurred in the road infrastructure, where NRs 6.96 billion worth of damage was recorded in federal road projects, and NRs 2.34 billion in road networks, NRs 850 million in bridges and NRs 40 million in public buildings under the provincial office.

Irrigation and water-related infrastructure suffered damages exceeding NRs 657 million. This includes NRs 134.6 million in 16 river control projects, NRs 17.4 million in five landslide control projects, NRs 177.1 million in 72 irrigation schemes, and NRs 329 million in 31 irrigation projects.

The drinking water sector recorded total losses of about NRs 568 million, with NRs 287.5 million in 29 federal projects and NRs 280.1 million in 223 provincial projects.

In the power and communication sector, damages were estimated at NRs 24.7 million in electricity infrastructure, including high- and low-tension lines and transformers, and NRs 508,000 in optical fibre and cable lines.

Agriculture and tea, the backbone of Ilam’s economy, faced heavy destruction. Crops cultivated across 892 hectares of land by 3,409 farmers were lost, amounting to NRs 274.9 million in damages. Tea estates under the Tea Expansion Programme suffered an additional NRs 47.55 million in losses across 25 estates.

Livestock losses exceeded NRs 40 million, including 2,520 animals valued at NRs 23.5 million, and 244 sheds and ponds worth NRs 19.7 million.

The disaster also took a heavy human toll. As of November 1, it claimed 39 lives, injured 26 people, and left one missing. A total of 449 households were displaced, with 438 taking refuge with relatives and 11 in community shelters. Across the district, 338 houses were completely destroyed and 828 partially damaged.