KATHMANDU: The squatter settlement along the banks of the Bagmati River in Thapathali has been severely affected by last week’s floods.
This has left residents in a state of despair. Even after four days of flooding, relief and rehabilitation efforts remain minimal.
The heavy flooding, which occurred on Friday and Saturday, submerged the residents’ belongings, including clothes and personal items, rendering most of them unusable. When a Khabarhub correspondent reached the squatter settlement on Tuesday, it was visible that the flood had created havoc everywhere. Those whose makeshift homes were destroyed by the flood were gathering bamboo and trying to repair them, while others were taking care of their clothes and belongings that had been saved by the flood.
Parts of the settlement, which lies adjacent to the Bagmati River, were washed away entirely. Survivors are now focused on protecting what remains of their makeshift homes and shops.
The Supreme Court has already asked to shift the squatter settlements on the banks of the river to other safer places with facilities. But till now the government has not been able to take decisive action.
Although the Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation made attempts to move the settlement, the effort has stalled due to a lack of cooperation from the federal government.
In a previous attempt on Mangsir 12, 2079 B.S., violent clashes took place when the Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation used force to remove the squatter settlement.
When the squatters retaliated with homemade weapons, several city police personnel of the metropolis were also injured. When the team of Kathmandu Metropolis arrived with dozers to remove the slums, the squatters resisted with all their might. Since then, the metropolis has not taken another initiative to remove these settlements.
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