Mud-Stained Hope: Nepal’s Flood Survivors Battle Cycle of Loss
After losing everything to floods and avalanches, Nepal's Tamang community faces a cycle of displacement and loss in search of stability.
In a small, tin-thatched room in Nuwakot, Nangsi Tamang carefully smears red clay across the floor. For her and her husband, Singhbir Tamang, this simple act is the first step in rebuilding a life that was virtually erased in an instant. The couple are among the many survivors of the devastating floods and debris flows that tore through their settlement in Khalte, Rasuwa, on August 26.
The disaster struck with terrifying speed. A frantic phone call from relatives served as the only warning, prompting the elderly couple and their neighbors to flee toward higher ground. They escaped with nothing but the clothes on their backs—no slippers, no food, and no possessions.
“My house is gone; I am in deep worry. Now I don’t have anything,” Nangsi told ANI. “We didn’t even get anything to eat for two days; to save our lives, we came here.”
A Heartbreaking Cycle of Displacement
For the Tamang couple, this is not the first time they have been forced to abandon their home. This disaster marks their second major displacement in just over a decade, highlighting a cruel pattern of instability for their community.
Their first displacement occurred during the catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake of 2015. The quake ravaged mountain villages including Mailung, Tiru, Haku, and Gogane in the Rasuwa district. As the shaken land lost its grip and landslide risks skyrocketed, the Tamang settlement was forced to relocate to the river embankments of Khalte.
What was intended by the government to be a temporary relocation for 250 households eventually became a permanent settlement. However, the perceived safety of the riverside proved illusory when the August ice and rock avalanches swept through, forcing the community to flee once again.
The Grueling Journey to Safety
The path to their current refuge was a grueling trek across hills and through uncertainty. Singhbir Tamang recalled their desperate journey, starting from Rasuwa on August 26, moving through Nilkantha Municipality, and then to Ladey. Driven by the basic need for salt and electricity, they climbed through Mahabir and Simle before finally arriving at the Tamang block in Bidur-04.
Eventually, the local authorities arranged for them to move to the Bada Chautara temporary shelter, located on government-owned land.
A Community in Mourning
The physical loss of homes is compounded by an unbearable emotional toll. The Tamang couple has lost several relatives in the flood who remain missing. Across the survivor community, 32 family members have been lost, leaving behind a population struggling to process deep trauma.
The Tamang people, an indigenous Tibetan-Burmese community making up about 6 percent of Nepal's population, have long faced marginalization and systemic disparities. These vulnerabilities become starkly apparent during national tragedies. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, approximately 34 percent of the victims of the 2015 earthquake belonged to the Tamang community.
Life in the Temporary Camp
Currently, the Bada Chautara camp provides shelter to 511 displaced individuals, including:
- 160 males
- 139 females
- 115 boys
- 97 girls under the age of 18
While some have transitioned from donor-provided tents to more stable tin-thatched rooms, the psychological scars remain. For those who survived the roar of the floodwaters, the sound of monsoon rain continues to trigger fear, serving as a haunting reminder of the day they lost everything.
Despite their resilience and adaptive nature, a cloud of anxiety hangs over the camp. For the survivors of Bada Chautara, the primary fear is no longer just the weather, but the possibility that they may be forced to move yet again.