Five years have elapsed since a deadly flood swept away a swath of land in the district, rendering scores of families completely homeless and destitute.[break]
But the state remains largely apathetic toward their plight as it is yet to adequately compensate them.
Among these victims, 156 families of Jogbuda VDC and 32 more of Sirsa VDC have been languishing in makeshift huts in a community forest.
Simlekhet, Tandajala, Saurgaida, Bashgoira, Tatapani villages of Jogbuda VDC were affected the most in the flooding.
“How can we enjoy the festival when we are struggling to eke out a living? The flood swept away our dreams and the government´s apathy has dampened our spirit,” cries Gorakh Bahadur Thapa of Simkhet village in Jogbuda VDC.
The victims submitted the details of the losses they suffered to the Dadeldhura District Administration Office years back, but no compensation has arrived yet.
“We now loathe the festive week as it only evokes memories of the good old days, which cannot but torture us” says the coordinator of the flood victims´ struggling committee, Nar Bahadur Dhami.
Another flood victim from Simlakhet village, Nawaraj Bhatt, says, “Even if some of us want to observe the tradition of Dashain, we don´t have the money, and nobody trust homeless lot like us if we were to seek a loan.”
“On top of that inflation is making our life more miserable,” adds Bhatt.
Once landlords and decent citizens of the district, these victims are now surviving on a paltry wage as farm laborers.
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