Kathmandu. Property worth around Rs 11 billion was destroyed in the incident of arson and looting that took place at the outlet and godown of Bhatbhateni Supermarket and Superstore Pvt Ltd on September 9.
According to Min Bahadur Gurung, chairman of Bhatbhateni Supermarket, the loss was estimated at Rs 10.85 billion. According to him, this figure was part of a preliminary assessment of the damage caused by the looting and arson to the building, goods and warehouses of the superstore. He said that the amount of damage could be ascertained only after the completion of the damage assessment by the surveyors.
According to Gurung, the superstore will be reconstructed and brought into operation within four months.
Crowds vandalizing, looting and arson at 12 of the 28 superstores in Bhatbhateni have been vandalised, looted and set ablaze by mobs under the guise of the Gen G movement. Apart from this, there has been vandalism and looting in more boats. Superstores in Dharan, Birtamode, Biratnagar, Damak, Bharatpur, Hetauda, Pokhara, Naxal Superstore, Naxal Godam, Maharajgunj, Boudh and Koteshwor were torched.
The superstores are located in Satdobato, Sanagaun, Patan, Tokha, Anamnagar, Tripureshwor, Kalanki, Radhe Radhe Bhaktapur and Balaju. Outside the Kathmandu Valley, there are seven superstores in Birgunj, Janakpur, Itahari, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadhi.
Bhatbhateni has been selling daily consumables, gold, silver, clothes and even household appliances under one roof.
A fire broke out at Bhatbhateni Superstore in Chabahil Boudh and some structures of its building were destroyed, according to preliminary investigations. Therefore, the reconstruction of this superstore is expected to take longer than others.
Talking to media persons, he said that although he was deeply saddened by the attack on Bhatbhateni, he did not give up due to his responsibility towards the employees, customers and the bank. “I have a responsibility over all of them, I can’t escape my responsibility,” he said.
Bhatbhateni has 28 super stores across the country and has a bank loan of around Rs 17 billion.
According to the police, 6 people were burnt to death in the fire that broke out in Bhatambhateni in Boudh Superstore, 4 in Dharan, 1 in Biratnagar and 1 in Koteshwor. The bodies of most of them are yet to be identified, but they are suspected to be involved in the robbery.
