Kathmandu: A village in Nepal that became home to families displaced by the devastating 2015 earthquake has been destroyed by floods, raising concerns about the safety of relocation programmes and the challenges of rebuilding communities in areas exposed to natural disasters.
Khalte village in Rasuwa district was swept away by flash floods on August 26, leaving at least 375 people reported missing from the settlement, according to residents cited in reports. Many families living there had lost their homes in the 2015 earthquake and had moved to Khalte in search of a place to rebuild their lives.
The destruction has renewed questions about whether the risks facing displaced families were adequately considered when the settlement was established. It has also highlighted the difficulties Nepal faces in providing permanent housing for people who have survived repeated disasters.
The village was established as a settlement for families displaced by the 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and destroyed homes and communities across Nepal. Around 257 vulnerable households were relocated to the area under a government resettlement programme.
However, the settlement was in an area identified as being at risk from landslides and avalanches. The August floods have drawn renewed attention to the importance of careful site selection and geological assessments before displaced families are moved to new locations.
The wider disaster along the Bhote Koshi River caused extensive damage across northern Nepal. More than 1,400 people were reported killed, while thousands remained missing in figures published during September. Authorities continued to verify the casualty and missing person records, and a final confirmed total was not established in the latest information reviewed.
For the families who had settled in Khalte, the disaster brought another painful loss. People who had survived the earthquake found themselves facing the destruction of their homes and the disappearance of relatives and neighbours.
The incident has raised questions about how authorities select relocation sites, how information about environmental risks is communicated to residents and whether sufficient safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable communities.
Relocating people after a disaster requires more than providing land and building houses. Safe settlements also need reliable roads, access to hospitals and schools, clean water, electricity and opportunities to earn a living. Without these services, families can struggle to recover even after receiving permanent housing.
Nepal's government is considering new approaches to reconstruction following the floods. According to reports, authorities have proposed developing a new city for flood survivors, with facilities such as hospitals, schools and industries. The proposal aims to support recovery while providing residents with access to essential services and employment opportunities.
The government is also considering private sector participation in housing reconstruction and identifying safer areas for relocation. Dharam Raj Uprety, chief executive of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, has highlighted the need for better coordination among agencies responsible for infrastructure development and urban planning.
However, the proposals remain plans, and details about their funding, implementation and timeline remain unclear. It is also uncertain how quickly families who lost their homes will be able to move into permanent housing.
The United Nations launched a US$49.6 million emergency appeal on September 4 to support people affected by the August disaster. At the time, the organisation estimated that around 84,000 people had been affected. The response focused on urgent needs such as shelter, food, clean water, sanitation, health care and protection for vulnerable people.
The reported 375 missing people from Khalte should be distinguished from nationwide figures, as the village total may overlap with wider district and national records. The number of people still unaccounted for also requires careful verification as authorities update their records.
Meanwhile, another major flood struck Nepal in October, highlighting the continuing risks faced by mountain communities. On October 11, a landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha district, triggering flooding downstream and damaging homes, bridges and other infrastructure.
Initial reports said five people were missing and 49 had been rescued. An update on October 12 reported that 321 people had been rescued and more than 100 foreign trekkers were stranded at different locations. These figures describe the situation reported during the early rescue operation and should not be taken as the final status of the emergency.
The October flooding was separate from the August disaster in Rasuwa district. However, both incidents demonstrate the dangers posed by sudden floods and landslides in Nepal's mountainous terrain.
Communities across the country face risks from flash floods, landslides and sudden changes in river conditions. These hazards can damage settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities, making emergency access and long term recovery more difficult.
The destruction of Khalte has placed safe resettlement among the major challenges facing Nepal as it works to recover from the floods. Authorities must address the immediate need for shelter while ensuring that new settlements are chosen with careful attention to environmental risks.
For families who have already lost their homes once, rebuilding means more than finding another place to live. It means finding a safe location where they can access essential services, restore their livelihoods and build a more secure future.