Nepal floods test 36-year-old PM with huge rebuilding challenge
Shah faces a costly recovery just as Nepal's $45 billion economy is being squeezed by higher fuel costs, weaker tourism and slowing growth.
Following violent flash floods that swept away bridges, roads and communications links across the Himalayas, Nepal faces a daunting reconstruction challenge. Prime Minister Balen Shah, who came to power this year at the age of 36, is navigating his government's first crisis as he grapples with the colossal task of rebuilding. The recent flash floods have highlighted the vulnerability of Nepal's $45 billion economy, which is already being pressured by rising fuel costs, a decline in tourism, and slower growth following the Iran war.
Nepal, positioned on an active Himalayan fault, experiences steep mountains, monsoon-swollen rivers, and glacial lakes, making communities susceptible to earthquakes, landslides, and floods. These natural disasters have in the past claimed hundreds or even thousands of lives. Despite these recurring disasters, the current economic conditions present a formidable obstacle for Shah's administration as they embark on the monumental task of rebuilding the nation.
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