KATHMANDU, Oct 14: Engineers inspecting the government buildings gutted during the Gen Z protests on September 9 say they were shocked by what they called the calculated manner in which the fires were set.
They believe the arson at Singha Durbar, the Kathmandu District Court, and the Supreme Court was deliberate and meticulously planned. Their findings suggest that those involved had intimate knowledge of the institutions’ layouts and operations.
“If the government and police launch a serious investigation, many hidden truths could surface,” said Subash Chandra Baral, president of the Nepal Engineers’ Association. “During our field inspection, we noticed several suspicious patterns- it seemed clear that key government offices were specifically targeted.”
161 govt engineers have nowhere to go
A joint team from the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction and the Nepal Engineers’ Association was formed to assess the damage. The team has already completed and submitted its report to multiple agencies, including the National Planning Commission.
“We were stunned when we entered the Supreme Court building,” Baral said. “It looked as though important documents were deliberately chosen and burned first. The computers were intact, but the hard drives had been removed. Rooms holding sensitive files were destroyed.”
The same pattern appeared at the Kathmandu District Court. “All the case files were kept in underground rooms, yet the attackers went straight there. That’s not something an ordinary person would know—it clearly points to insider knowledge,” Baral added.
An engineer from the Ministry of Urban Development said the damage at Singha Durbar was even more alarming. “After the 2015 earthquake, Singha Durbar was rebuilt using fire-resistant materials. It’s not easy to ignite. Whoever set it ablaze must have had technical expertise,” he said.
According to him, the arsonists used bottles filled with petrol and other flammable substances, targeting rooms where vital government documents were stored. “The meeting hall—where key papers are usually kept—was one of the first places burned,” he noted.
The fire raged for three days, severely damaging the historic complex. Engineers said it could have been contained had it been extinguished promptly the next morning. Now, they believe the entire structure might need to be rebuilt from the foundation.
They urged the government to conduct a detailed study into the incident.
This is not the first time Singha Durbar has suffered destruction—major fires in 1973 and the 2015 earthquake also caused heavy damage. But engineers say this latest inferno was the most devastating yet.
