Nepal flood destroys homes, dasain joy
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In Nepal’s Nuwakot district, Nirajan Paudel mourns the loss of his home and family during the recent Bhote Koshi River flood, overshadowing the upcoming Dasain festival.
The annual celebration, typically a time for family gatherings and joy, brings only painful memories for Paudel, whose house was swept away along with his parents, uncle, aunt, and sister. He now has no home to return to, unlike many other Nepalis traveling to their villages for Dasain.
Paudel reflects on past Dasain celebrations filled with warmth and tradition, contrasting them with the current emptiness. He struggles with how to explain the devastation to his five-year-old son, Liyan, who still anticipates returning to their village to play games with his grandparents. The flood not only destroyed their house but also a way of life built over generations.
The Paudel family had rebuilt their home after the 2015 earthquake, and his father had recently plastered it in preparation for Dasain. Nirajan had urged his parents to move to Kathmandu due to the flood risk, but they wanted to remain in their village. Now, along with 78 other villagers still missing, their fate remains unknown, leaving Nirajan seeking support from the state to rebuild his life and care for his son.
