KATHMANDU, Sept 21: Among the buildings set on fire and vandalized during the Gen-Z movement on September 8, four have been deemed high-risk, with experts advising that no one should enter them. This conclusion comes from a study conducted by engineers.
According to Subash Chandra Baral, President of the Nepal Engineers’ Association, the main building of Singha Durbar, the northern section of the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Health building, and the Kathmandu District Court building are all in a condition that makes them unsafe for use. The preliminary report, prepared jointly by the Engineers’ Association, the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, and Structural Engineers (SINET), notes that even entry for cleaning purposes is highly risky.
“Nepal is a seismic-prone region. Entering these four buildings, which have been severely damaged by fire, would be dangerous. Even minor tremors could cause a complete collapse,” Baral said. “People can go near the buildings, but extreme caution is required if approaching them. These buildings are at risk of total collapse even from a minor earthquake.”
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During the Gen-Z movement, 230 government buildings under the federal government were damaged. Including those under provincial and local governments, Baral estimates that more than 500 buildings nationwide suffered damage.
The engineers’ joint team categorized the damaged buildings into three groups: fully usable, partially usable, and completely unusable. The preliminary study concluded that these four buildings fall under the “completely unusable” category.
“This is a preliminary report. A detailed report is being prepared,” Baral said. He added that the main building of Singha Durbar was reconstructed after the 2015 earthquake. The report also notes that the building in front of the Road Department in Babarmahal, also rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake, is currently unsafe for use.
The team found that other damaged buildings can still be used partially. The Gen-Z movement caused significant damage to the main building of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, where employees are currently working from undamaged rooms. Government buildings across the country were burned during the protests, and officials estimate that reconstruction will cost at least one hundred billion rupees.
