Saptakoshi Flood Survivors in Nepal Still Await Compensation 18 Years On

Eighteen years after the devastating Saptakoshi floods swept away homes and farmland in Sunsari district, many survivors in Koshi Rural Municipality are still waiting for promised government relief.

Dharmendra Kumar Karna says his mother’s land, still covered in sand and debris, has not received the compensation promised after a boundary dispute was resolved years ago. Sukdev Yadav received payment for two bighas of damaged land but his fields remain largely unusable, and he is still awaiting the 30 cubic‑feet of timber the government pledged to flood victims. Amod Kumar Yadav and Tileshwari Devi Shah report similar delays, with timber never delivered despite repeated visits to district officials.

While some families have received partial land compensation, the promised timber and full restitution have not materialised, leaving many households unable to rebuild adequate homes or restore their farms.