Lumbini’s Buddhist meditation centre was built last year, but its roof is already leaking

Officials decry ‘gross negligence’ by the contractor assigned to build the centre.

Friday was a rainy day in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Various parts of Nepal have been witnessing light, unseasonable rainfall for the past week or two but in Lumbini on Friday, it exceeded its usual density. Still, the day would have gone unremarked if it was not for reports that the International Buddhist Hall and Meditation Centre was deluged and close to flooding. The centre’s roof had leaked in the rain.