Flood survivors mark festival in tents and temporary shelters

Twenty-five families forced from Betrawati by recent flooding are spending the festive period inside temporary tents set up at Swardanda. Several displaced people have sought shelter with relatives, while others are residing inside a local monastery. Displaced individuals described the festive time as bringing hardship rather than joy, noting that while they have cooking utensils available, they lack permanent houses to live in during the holidays. Other displaced residents stated they are being housed inside a holding centre while coping with ongoing difficulties. A local resident explained that although a traditional 49-day ritual has ended, returning to Timure remains unsafe and impossible, forcing families to remain at the shelter. Searching for rented rooms has proven difficult, leading many families to anticipate staying in temporary living arrangements for up to another year. Displaced residents are currently located in various areas, with some residing in Hetauda within Makwanpur district. Affected individuals indicated they have no desire to return to dangerous locations where their previous homes were situated, choosing to stay in temporary accommodation despite the severe hardships faced throughout the festival season.