Nepal in ruins: Gen-Z protests leave $1.4 billion in infrastructure damage

The two-day Gen-Z protests that swept across Nepal earlier this week have left behind a staggering trail of destruction, with government officials estimating damage to public infrastructure alone at more than Rs 200 billion ($1,4 billion).

In addition to the loss of major buildings, invaluable historical documents and government records have reportedly been reduced to ashes. Officials from the Ministry of Urban Development confirmed that landmark structures, including Singha Durbar, the Parliament building, and the Supreme Court, have suffered extensive fire damage, Caliber.Az reports, citing Nepalese media.

“Most of these structures are beyond retrofitting; they cannot simply be repaired and reused like after an earthquake. Rebuilding them will cost upwards of Rs 200 billion,” a ministry source said, adding that the estimate only accounts for the buildings themselves, not the additional billions required for office setup and management.

The destruction is not limited to the Kathmandu Valley. Government institutions across various provinces—including provincial assembly halls, chief ministers’ offices, prisons, police stations, land revenue offices, and dozens of municipal ward offices—have been gutted.

“Thinking about when, how, and with what resources these structures can be rebuilt is overwhelming,” one ministry engineer remarked.

While the ministry confirmed that the largest concentration of damage occurred in the capital, significant destruction was also reported in major cities such as Pokhara, Itahari, Janakpur, Dhangadhi, and Biratnagar. Officials say anarchic groups that infiltrated September 9 Gen-Z demonstrations were responsible for targeting not only state institutions but also private and community properties.

Residences of political leaders, business complexes, tourist infrastructure, automobile showrooms, media houses, and local community facilities were also vandalized and set ablaze, contributing to an already dire situation.

The protests escalated into violence following police gunfire during a rally on Monday that left 19 dead. On September 9, groups of agitators exploited the unrest, setting fire to public and private infrastructure from early morning. The death toll has now risen to 34, with thousands more injured.

The scope of destruction has left Nepal’s governance structure severely compromised. All three branches of the federal government are struggling to function, with the Supreme Court reportedly attempting to operate from tents.

Singha Durbar, the nerve center of the executive branch, has had most of its offices destroyed by fire. The Parliament building in New Baneshwor was also gutted, leaving lawmakers without a venue to convene once order is restored.

Even as discussions about forming an interim government gain traction, officials say there is no intact facility where a cabinet meeting could be held.

The Ministry of Urban Development emphasized that the Rs 200 billion figure is only a preliminary estimate, and the true cost of replacing destroyed infrastructure and restoring the country’s governance capacity could be significantly higher.

By Vafa Guliyeva