UDAYAPUR, Sept 22: The entire country is gearing up to celebrate Dashain, but the festival has added to the woes of Udayapur flood victims. As Khaijanpur of Triyuga Municipality-2, was ravaged by the monsoon triggered floods, the Dashain festival which started on Thursday has failed to bring joy and excitement to the flood victims.
Ghaman Singh Khatri, ward chairman of Triyuga Municipality-2 said, “The floods on August 12 and 13 washed away about 33 hectares land area of the village,” adding, “Flood swept away the homes, land and all belongings of 70 houses.”
After being displaced by flood, the victims have been urging the Municipality to provide them relief for Dashain, informed Khatri.
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Brikha Shrestha, a flood victim stated, “I wish this festivals would never come,” adding, “Flood has made us so poor that we are not in a situation to celebrate festivals.”
Meanwhile, the flood-displaced people have been living under temporary tents after staying at the local school for a week.
Various governmental and other organizations like Nepal Red Cross Society and Nawa Prabhat Nepal had provided the emergency relief like rice, blankets, tarpaulins and other materials to the flood victims.
Even though quick relief had been provided to all victims, the government has not come up with a long-term vision to re-settle the flood-affected people. This has made the victims even more helpless and shattered.
The municipality had promised to distribute rice among the flood-displaced people but that hasn’t happened so far, said Ward Chairman Khatri.