Nepal assesses riot damage

Nepal estimates that the damage caused a few days ago by protesters denouncing the corruption of elites who attacked places of power, notably the Parliament and the seat of government, was in the millions of euros.

The riots that brought down the government left at least 72 dead in 48 hours.

"So much has been destroyed," police spokesman Binod Ghimire told AFP.

It will take time to quantify the extent of the losses, especially outside the capital Kathmandu.

More than 20 hotels were looted, and the capital's recently opened Hilton was set on fire on September 9, according to the Nepal Hotel Association.

It estimates the damage to this sector at 25 billion Nepalese rupees (150 million euros), affecting more than 2.000 employees, and at 47 million euros for the Hilton hotel alone.

The head of the interim government, Sushila Karki, deplored on Sunday "heavy human and material suffering."

At the Supreme Court on Tuesday, officials worked in tents outside the burned-out building, near a parking lot littered with the wreckage of burned-out vehicles.

They were busy trying to recover documents blackened and soaked by the water that had helped extinguish the fires.

AFP photographers, who were allowed inside, reported rooms completely destroyed by flames.

Buildings at the government headquarters, Singha Durbar, were also set ablaze on September 9, along with police stations and courts.

"All the files, evidence and records of the Supreme Court have been destroyed," lamented Ms. Karki, former head of this high court.

More than 12.500 inmates have escaped from prisons across the country, posing a threat to public safety.

Protesters also targeted property belonging to the ruling class and elite, setting fire to the homes of elected officials, car dealerships and offices.

Media outlets were also targeted, with a building at the headquarters of the Kantipur Media group, which owns newspapers, websites, and radio and television channels, set on fire.

"No infrastructure has been spared. The government, the private sector, and the media have all suffered losses," said economist Chandra Mani Adhikari.

"It will take a lot of time and resources to rebuild everything and recover the data and documents we have lost."