Schools in Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot, which have remained closed since August 26 following the Bhotekoshi floods, will reopen on Wednesday, 14 days after the disaster.

Nuwakot was among the districts hit by the floods, with schools, homes and other infrastructure damaged by the disaster.

The municipal executive has decided to resume classes at both community and private schools, except those that were completely damaged by the floods or are currently being used as temporary holding centres for displaced people.

Before the floods, Bidur had 79 schools in operation. For now, 65 of them will reopen.

“The children from flood-affected areas can attend whichever school is most convenient for them,” said Deputy Mayor Prabha Bogati. “They should not worry if they do not have a school uniform. The schools will make arrangements to ensure they can attend classes.”

The municipality has also issued a circular to community and private schools instructing them to resume regular classes.

According to Bidur’s school inspector, Naba Raj Sapkota, the municipality had 54 community schools and 25 private schools before the floods. Three community schools and two private schools were destroyed.

Another eight community schools and one private school are currently being used as holding centres for people displaced by the floods.

Of the 79 schools in the municipality, 43 community schools and 22 private schools, 65 in total, will reopen from Wednesday. The municipality said it would take a separate decision soon on when and how to resume classes at schools that remain occupied as holding centres or have suffered extensive damage.

The floods destroyed Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, Ramchandra Basic School, Trishuli Community Boarding School and Uttargaya Public English School in Bidur.

The Ministry of Education and Sports has reported damage to eight other schools, including Chandeshwori Secondary School, Gyankunj Boarding School, JD Boarding School and Pioneer Boarding School.

In total, 23 schools across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts have been affected by the floods. More than 7,000 students are enrolled at the affected schools, according to government data.

Around 600 children remain unaccounted for following the floods.

Schools in several local units were affected, including Gosainkunda and Uttargaya in Rasuwa, Bidur in Nuwakot and Galchhi in Dhading.