Nepal, Sept. 19 -- The nationwide violent demonstrations on the second day of Gen Z movement, triggered by the state's brutal treatment of young protesters a day prior, reduced over 300 office buildings of local governments across the country to ashes. Hundreds of machinery of municipalities, including vehicles and office equipment, were torched indiscriminately by unruly mobs. In the absence of basic necessities for office operation and with government staffers finding themselves reeling under chaos, fear and uncertainty, vital day-to-day services were halted.

The interim government has started to take stock of the property loss during the protests. Initial estimates suggest the loss of hundreds of billions of rupees. While the caretake...