A major monsoon-related disaster occurred, recorded as one of the most devastating incidents in Bajhang district's recent history. A total of 32 people lost their lives, including 23 individuals from the Dalit community.
For two months, affected families endured pain and uncertainty, receiving only limited emergency relief and political promises. Many of them continued living in partially damaged homes or makeshift shelters, risking their lives. An initial survey identified 463 Dalit families as affected by the floods and landslides.
The Government of Nepal failed to verify and include hundreds of affected families. Only 97 Dalit families were included in the second list of eligible households for housing and reconstruction grants.
Local and district-level disaster management committees delayed the re-verification and approval process. Out of the 97 Dalit families listed, only 48 were approved by the committees.
The distribution of the first tranche of the housing grant began - 27 months after the incident occurred.
Although 48 Dalit households were approved, only 33 have received the first tranche of NPR 50,000 in housing and reconstruction support. This means that of the 463 families identified in the initial survey, only about 7 percent have actually received any government grant.