RAUTAHAT, Dec 30: A catastrophic fire in the Dalit settlement of Patahi, Rajdevi Municipality-5, has gutted the homes and dreams of eight families, leaving around 55 people displaced and struggling to survive.
The fire broke out in the middle of the night, while the entire village was asleep, engulfing the homes of Babulal Paswan and his neighbors. Among the victims, Babulal had saved Rs 1.7 million, money sent by his son, Satyendra Paswan, working in Malaysia, and his daughter-in-law in the Nepal Police, to build a new house. However, this dream was shattered as the fire reduced the money and the house to ashes.
Local Kanti Devi Paswan said that the flames and the explosion of gas cylinders caused mayhem throughout the Dalit settlement. "We managed to escape, but we couldn’t do anything to stop it," she said. The fire completely destroyed the homes of Babulal Paswan, Dipendra Paswan, Pradeep Paswan, Kantidevi Paswan, Nagendra Paswan, Sogarath Paswan, and Jagarnath Paswan.
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At present, around 55 people from eight families are forced to live in makeshift shelters made of tarpaulins and other temporary materials to survive the intense cold. According to Chief District Officer Hiralal Regmi, the Disaster Management Committee has provided tarpaulins, utensils, food, and other essential items as immediate relief.
Although local construction workers have supplied gas cylinders, stoves, blankets, and food, the victims’ situation remains dire. “The condition of the children, the elderly, and women is especially critical, enduring the freezing cold with no sunlight throughout the day,” said local resident Khushibu Singh.
Rajdevi Municipality Mayor Bhikhari Yadav said that additional relief materials have been distributed, though many survivors have lost everything except the clothes they wore. Victim Indu Devi shared her plights, revealing that she had lost Rs 200,000-money sent by her husband from Malaysia for the purpose of building a house.
The fire has caused significant financial and emotional trauma to the affected families, who now face an uncertain future. Local authorities are focused on providing immediate relief, but a long-term rehabilitation plan is urgently needed to help these families rebuild their lives.
