Children displaced by Bhotekoshi flood wait for news of their families

Around 100 children are staying at Shivalaya Basic School in Uttargaya after the Bhotekoshi flood, waiting for news from family members who remain out of contact.

Some children sit quietly, cry, eat or play as local leaders, teachers, civil society members and other survivors care for them. Whenever someone arrives, the children gather around, hoping the newcomer may be a parent they have been waiting to see.

Nine-year-old Bhujana Tamang was on her way to school in Khalte when police warned that the river was rising and took her toward the forest. Her mother, five-year-old brother and 16-year-old sister were watching the flood from the road. Her father worked at a nearby hydropower project. Bhujana has not seen any of them since.

People around her believe her family may have been swept away, but she continues to hope they will return. “I haven’t seen anyone since the flood. Everyone says the flood swept away my father, mother, brother and sister. But I feel they will come back. I see them in my dreams,” she said.

Ten-year-old Apsara Tamang also reached safety after a teacher, Uma, took her uphill. Her father, Subba Tamang, worked at a hydropower project and has been out of contact since the flood. Apsara does not know what happened to the family members who were at home.

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I haven’t seen anyone since the flood. Everyone says the flood swept away my father, mother, brother and sister. But I feel they will come back. I see them in my dreams.