“How can people like us, who has lost everything in the fire, celebrate the festival,” said Tiliya Sada, a fire victim. “Instead of bringing us any happiness, the festival reminds us of the loss we have been trying so hard to forget,” he added. [break]
“We have been living in temporary shelter and keeping ourselves alive through what little we get in relief packages. At this time of sorrow how can we even think of celebrating a festival,” shared another victim Ram Prasad Sada.
“We are the most neglected lot and above all the fire has destroyed everything we owned. Festivals do not mean anything to us at this time of sorrow,” said Prasad.
The fire victims of Tikuliya VDC of Saptari share a similar grief. Twenty-seven houses in a Musahar settlement were gutted in the fire on Sunday leaving around nineteen families homeless. Sadly, the authorities have not even arranged temporary shelters for the displaced families.
“We have no money and food. I could not even buy water balloons for my kids this year,” said Ramdev Sada, a fire victim. “We have come to terms with what we lost, but it is difficult for us to convince our children,” he added.
Over the last two weeks, more than 100 families have been rendered homeless in various fire outbreaks in the district. On Monday alone, fire incidents were reported in three different villages. Rayapur, Tikuliya, Sitapur, Dharampur, Rampur Jamuwa and Barhampur VDCs of the districts have been affected by the fire lately.
“The outbreaks have hit the poorest lot and this year´s Holi holds no meaning for the victims this year,” said Chief District Officer (CDO) of Saptari Hari Raj Panta.
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