KATHMANDU: On the first day of the Gen Z movement, on September 8, the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) office in Minbhawan, Kathmandu, was attacked.

An angry mob vandalized the department’s building, which is located right next to the Parliament building, the ‘epicenter’ of the movement.

On September 9, the Department of Transport lost its very structure due to looting and arson.

The Transport Management Offices in Sallaghari, Bhaktapur, and Chabahil were also not spared from the protestors’ target.

Transport offices in Gurjudhara, Swayambhu, and Ekantakuna, which were not damaged during the protest, began providing regular services from September 11.

However, the services of the transport offices affected by arson have not yet been fully restored.

Although the department has brought the office into operation by placing physical materials collected from aid in the parking area, it has not been able to provide full services.

Keshav Khatiwada, the department’s Director of Information Technology, informed that out of 25,000 printed driving licenses in the department, 22,000 were burnt to ashes by the fire.

According to him, the department will open renewals and new applications for driving licenses only after Chhath.

Similarly, he stated that other departmental records, including driving licenses, up to September 2 are safe.

He mentioned that records from September 3 to 8 would also be safe if they could be ‘recovered’ from a hard disk that has been found.

Since printers and other equipment were damaged, it is uncertain when the printing of new licenses will begin.

Similarly, there is widespread concern and worry about whether citizens’ data are secure in the department after the arson.