Nepal’s dashain festival marked by loss after flooding
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In Nepal, people experienced a somber Dashain festival this year as the Palungtar municipality in Gorkha district mourned 30 residents lost in a flash flood on August 10th.
The Bhote Koshi River’s sudden surge swept away a bus carrying 36 pilgrims to Gosainkunda, a religious site. Families in the village are grieving, with some still awaiting news of their loved ones and others having already performed funeral rites with only symbolic representations of the deceased.
The flood devastated homes and disrupted celebrations, replacing joy with grief. Sagar Devkota lost both his parents, Tika Ram and Ram Maya Devkota, who were traveling on the bus he drove. He expressed his pain, noting the contrast between festive atmospheres elsewhere and the sorrow in his village. His family, including an elderly grandfather, a daughter, and a five-year-old granddaughter, now faces an uncertain future as they relied on Sagar’s income.
Beyond immediate loss, survivors grapple with bureaucratic hurdles in claiming death certificates and accessing benefits. The lack of official documentation delays relief funds and legal claims. Ward Chairman Deepak Pandey reported that six passengers survived, but 30 remain missing, with five identified and funeral rites completed. While other communities prepared for Dashain with shopping and gatherings, this village remains in mourning, awaiting the return of those lost.
