Kathmandu, Aug. 30 -- As the government prepares to carry out a post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) of the devastation caused by the Bhotekoshi floods, preliminary estimates suggest that Nepal could require around $5 billion (around Rs762 billion) for reconstruction and rehabilitation, according to government officials.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle told Reuters that the government may need between $4 billion and $5 billion to rebuild structures damaged by the floods and carry out other rehabilitation-related works. He stressed that the figure was only a preliminary estimate, as the full extent of the loss and damage is still being assessed.

"We will require much less than what we needed for the 2015 earthquake. Loss and damage is be...