More than 15,000 people have been displaced across the Kathmandu Valley after authorities launched a large-scale demolition campaign targeting settlements built along riverbanks and public land. The operation, which lasted seven days, affected thousands of low-income families living in informal settlements across several parts of the capital.
According to the District Administration Office in Kathmandu, a total of 15,361 people were displaced during the campaign. Officials noted that the figure does not include the complete data from the Manohara River area and parts of Bhaktapur, where additional demolitions also took place, meaning the actual number of displaced residents could be significantly higher.
The demolition drive began on Baisakh 12 in the Thapathali riverbank settlement, one of the valley’s largest informal communities. Authorities removed 143 temporary structures there, displacing around 810 people from 136 families. The administration said the affected residents included hundreds of women, children, and elderly people.
On the same day, authorities also conducted a major operation in the Gairigaun area, where 878 structures — including both permanent and temporary buildings — were demolished. Around 1,000 families were living in the settlement, with approximately 2,600 people directly affected by the operation.
The following day, bulldozers were deployed in the Manohara River corridor. Authorities demolished 131 houses on the Kathmandu side of the settlement, displacing more than 1,500 residents. Officials said a larger portion of the settlement lies in the Bhaktapur district, and its figures were not included in the Kathmandu administration’s report.
The campaign later expanded to other riverbank and public land areas, including Kalopul, Banshighat, Balkhu, Shankhamul, and Kalimati. According to the administration, thousands more residents were displaced during those operations. Balkhu alone accounted for more than 4,800 displaced people, while over 2,100 people were affected in Bansghat.
In total, authorities said they demolished 2,687 structures during the week-long campaign, including 890 permanent buildings and 1,797 temporary shelters. Around 2,501 families were directly impacted.
Government officials have defended the operation as part of an effort to clear encroached public land, restore river corridors, and reduce flood risks ahead of the monsoon season. Authorities argue that unmanaged settlements along rivers have contributed to pollution, blocked waterways, and increased the vulnerability of residents during heavy rainfall and flooding.
However, the demolitions have triggered criticism from rights groups, housing advocates, and residents, who say the operation was carried out without adequate rehabilitation plans or alternative housing arrangements. Many displaced families reportedly spent nights outdoors or searched for temporary shelter after losing their homes.
The issue has once again brought national attention to Kathmandu’s growing urban housing crisis. Rapid urbanisation, rising land prices, and limited affordable housing options have pushed many low-income migrants and workers to settle along riverbanks and unused public land over the years. While governments have repeatedly promised managed housing solutions for landless and informal settlers, long-term rehabilitation efforts have remained limited and politically contentious.