The devastating flood that struck Rasuwagadhi on Asar 23 (July 7, 2025) has triggered preliminary insurance claims worth nearly Rs 290 million across multiple sectors, with Shikhar Insurance alone facing over Rs 160 million in liabilities.

The Nepal Insurance Authority confirmed that 63 initial insurance claims totaling Rs 289.26 million have been filed in the aftermath of the Bhote Koshi river flooding, which severely damaged the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge, customs infrastructure, parked vehicles, and parts of hydropower projects.

The breakdown of the claims reveals the widespread impact across different insurance categories:

- Marine Insurance: 6 claims worth Rs 157.01 million

- Engineering & Contractor’s All Risk (CAR): 4 claims worth Rs 55.5 million

- Property Insurance: 10 claims worth Rs 41.85 million

- Motor Insurance – Commercial: 32 claims worth Rs 23.15 million

- Motor Insurance – Private: 11 claims worth Rs 11.75 million

According to the Insurance Authority, Shikhar Insurance has received the largest number of high-value claims, with 10 cases totaling Rs 161.21 million. The damages are reportedly linked to both commercial infrastructure and hydropower-related projects.

Other major insurers facing sizable claims include:

- Neco Insurance: 3 claims totaling Rs 51.2 million

- Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance: 7 claims worth Rs 34.15 million

- Nepal Insurance: 12 claims totaling Rs 12.85 million

- Sanima GIC Insurance: 6 claims worth Rs 7.7 million

- IGI Prudential Insurance: 9 claims totaling Rs 7.55 million

- United Ajod Insurance: 3 claims totaling Rs 6.8 million

- NLG Insurance: 6 claims worth Rs 4.7 million

- Siddhartha Premier Insurance: 7 claims worth Rs 3.1 million

The catastrophic flood not only exposed weaknesses in disaster preparedness along one of Nepal’s critical international trading routes with China but also raised concerns about infrastructure resilience in flood-prone zones.

While insurance mechanisms have been triggered, industry analysts warn that timely and fair claim settlements will be key to maintaining public trust in the sector. The sheer volume and value of the claims also put pressure on the financial robustness of several insurance firms, especially those with concentrated exposure to hydropower and infrastructure sectors.

Government authorities have yet to release a comprehensive damage assessment report, but the insurance claim figures point to extensive economic fallout that may run deeper than initial estimates.

The Nepal Insurance Authority has pledged close monitoring of the claims process to ensure that the affected individuals, businesses, and infrastructure developers receive due compensation without undue delays.