Nepal floods: A major test for PM Balen's government

Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a former rapper, is grappling with the daunting task of rebuilding communities and infrastructure following a series of deadly flash floods last week. The floods, which originated near the Chinese border, swept through several towns, causing extensive damage to hydropower plants and leaving over 900 people dead and nearly 4,800 missing.

The disaster occurred just days before the anniversary of anti-corruption protests that ousted the previous government and brought Shah to power. The 36-year-old prime minister and his largely inexperienced cabinet face their first major national crisis, which is shaping up to be the country's worst disaster in a decade. Rescue efforts, including those from Chinese and Indian experts, are attempting to reach hundreds of workers trapped in tunnels at hydropower sites buried in mud.

Family members, including Sushila Giri, whose son Sishir was an intern at one of the projects, are anxiously awaiting news of their missing loved ones. The administration has acknowledged its initial lack of preparedness for such a disaster, with Bikram Timilsina, the minister for information and communication, admitting the initial confusion in dealing with the crisis.

However, efforts to speed up search, rescue, and relief works have been praised. Critics, such as former foreign secretary Madhu Raman Acharya, argue that the federal government should have involved local and provincial governments more effectively. The government's decision to seek international expertise for tunnel rescues, forensic examinations, and DNA testing has been seen as a crucial step to address the scale of the emergency.

Meanwhile, local authorities have faced limitations due to the centralized "one-door" approach adopted by the federal government, requiring relief activities to be coordinated through a single command structure.