Vandalism Ravages Dhanagadhi's Multi-Million Hall

The modern convention hall in Dhanagadhi, the current capital of Sudurpashchim Province, has been severely damaged due to vandalism before it could even become operational. Built with an investment of 32 crore 68 lakh 81 thousand rupees from the federal government, the hall was intended to host large conferences and events. It became a target of destruction during the Jana Andolan group's movement.

Extent of the Damage

The attack occurred on September 10. A group of protesters vandalized the hall, breaking nearly all of its glass panels and damaging the interior structure. According to Ward Chairman Jugram Chaudhary, no glass remains intact, and the inside has also been wrecked. The protesters attempted to set fire to some chairs, but security personnel prevented major damage by intervening.

Background and Inauguration

The construction of the hall was completed three years ago, and it was officially inaugurated by the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Falgun (February/March). However, due to a lack of necessary management arrangements, the hall had never become operational. It was already handed over to the Dhanagadhi Sub-Metropolitan City.

Facilities and Future Uncertainty

The facility includes a main hall with a capacity of 753 seats, a smaller hall for 200 people, underground parking, and VIP rooms. This vandalism has cast uncertainty on the Investment and Development Conference that the provincial government was preparing to host in the upcoming month of Mangsir (November/December). Following the incident, the Chief Minister of Sudurpashchim Province, Kamal Bahadur Shah, visited the site to inspect the damage.