Kathmandu, Sept. 8 -- The government is weighing whether to seek grants or loans to finance the reconstruction of infrastructure and property destroyed by the August 26 Bhotekoshi floods. The work is expected to cost billions of dollars.

The National Planning Commission has begun work on a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) to ascertain the full extent of the damage and the cost of recovery. The report is expected within five weeks and will form the basis for a planned donor conference.

At least 1,377 people have been confirmed dead, 5,326 missing, and 6,827 others have been injured when the floods triggered by a massive glacier collapse on the northern slopes of Mt Langtang Lirung caused devastation in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, a...