Nepal political parties agree to form parliamentary committee for flood relief

Following the Bhotekoshi flood on August 26, Nepali political parties have reached a consensus to form a parliamentary special committee within one week to oversee search, rescue, relief, and reconstruction efforts. The decision emerged from an all-party meeting convened by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane.

The committee is intended to study, investigate, and coordinate disaster response in affected areas, providing recommendations to the government. A multi-party political mechanism, with Lamichhane serving as the coordinator, will remain active and include representatives from major parties such as the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and RSP.

During parliamentary discussions, CPN-UML Deputy Leader Padma Kumari Aryal urged the government to establish an autonomous special authority for reconstruction, drawing lessons from the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. She also emphasized the need for the government to seek international assistance and advocate for climate justice on the global stage to address losses caused by the climate crisis.