Tihar joy fades for families hit by floods and landslides

In Panchthar district, September floods and landslides killed 11, left four missing, and destroyed hundreds of homes.

Mani Kumar Rai, a permanent resident of ward 2 of Phidim Municipality in Panchthar district, had a painful memory of Tihar—the second major Hindu festival after Dashain. He did not celebrate Tihar. The festival of light and flowers passed on a sad note for him this year. His younger sister perished in a landslide triggered by heavy rains on September 12.