When the government began demolishing informal settlements along the Bagmati River in April, officials described the move as a necessary step to protect vulnerable communities from the approaching monsoon. Hundreds of families watched bulldozers tear down homes they had built over decades. Carrying their belongings in sacks and bundles, they were relocated to temporary holding centers with assurances that the move would keep them safe from seasonal flooding while the government worked on permanent rehabilitation.

Three months later, those assurances were put to the test. On July 10, floodwaters from the Bagmati River entered the Radhaswamy Holding Center in Sundarighat, Kirtipur, forcing families to flee once again—this time from the very shelters that had been presented as a safer alternative to the riverbanks.

The incident has reignited questions about the government’s rehabilitation plan, the safety of temporary settlements, and the future of thousands of landless families still waiting for permanent housing.

On April 12, the newly formed government launched the first phase of a large-scale campaign to remove unplanned settlements built along the Bagmati River. The government argued that settlements built on public land were highly vulnerable to annual monsoon floods and posed risks to both residents and river conservation efforts.

During the operation, authorities demolished 2,687 houses and huts constructed on government and public land. The drive began in Thapathali and Gaurigaun before expanding to Manohara, Kalopul, Balkhu, Bansikhat, Shankhamul, Kalimati, Balaju, Swoyambhu, Gaushala, Dhobikhola and Kapan.

Families displaced by the operation were relocated to temporary holding centers in different areas where they were not familiar. Government officials repeatedly described the arrangement as temporary until a long-term rehabilitation plan could be implemented. The government’s annual Policies and Programmes also pledged to adopt long-term measures for the management of squatters and unmanaged settlements.

More recently, the Cabinet announced a monthly rehabilitation allowance of Rs 25,000 per displaced family to help with rental expenses. It also approved a monthly relief allowance of Rs 15,000 for a five-member family, with an additional Rs 2,000 for every extra family member for the next three months. Elderly people, persons with disabilities and others unable to live independently would also be accommodated in designated holding centers.

Residents were initially told they would remain in the holding centers for only 21 days. Instead, months passed without permanent rehabilitation. The hope and trust for the government is weakening now.

Even before the flood, many families complained of inadequate drinking water, poor sanitation, limited healthcare, overcrowded shelters and disruption to children’s education. Others lost their daily wage jobs after being relocated away from their workplaces. Despite the difficult conditions, most believed they had at least escaped the danger of flooding that had threatened their former settlements.

That belief would not last.

Around midnight on July 10, following continuous rainfall, floodwaters from the Bagmati River entered the Radhaswamy Holding Center at Sundarighat. Many families were asleep when water began entering their tents.

“When I woke up because of the cold, half of my body was already underwater,” recalled Rasmila Upreti. “Water was everywhere. We picked up our children and ran ourselves. The rescue team had not arrived”, Upreti said to Annapurna.

The flood affected around 154 people sheltering at the center. Food supplies, clothing, bedding, cooking utensils, personal documents and children’s school materials were destroyed. Families who had already lost their homes during the demolition suddenly found themselves losing the few belongings they had managed to save again.

“We were brought here saying it was for only 21 days,” said Harikumari Zimba, who is suffering from a serious lung infection. “Three months have passed. Now they say they will give us Rs 25,000. Where can anyone rent a room in Kathmandu with that amount?”

For many residents, the flood represented a painful irony—they had been removed from riverbanks to escape floods, only to be flooded again in government-managed shelters.

Why did the holding center flood?

According to hydrologist Souhard Joshi of the Flood Forecasting Branch under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Kathmandu Valley has become increasingly vulnerable to urban flooding.

He said flooding that once required around 60 millimetres of rainfall per hour can now occur with only 30 to 40 millimetres because of rapid urbanization, concrete surfaces that reduce water absorption, slower drainage and rising river levels.

“As soon as heavy rain falls in the northern part of Kathmandu, water levels in Bagmati and Bishnumati rise much faster than before,” he said to Annapurna. Joshi warned that unless drainage systems, bridges and flood-control infrastructure are redesigned, flooding will continue to worsen, particularly around river confluences such as Shankhamul and Tinkune.

The flood intensified frustration that had already been growing among displaced communities. The United National Squatters’ Front demonstrated in Kathmandu, demanding permanent housing, land ownership certificates and immediate action to rehabilitate displaced families.

Protesters argue that the government has failed to fulfill the promises made after the demolition drive and has instead placed families in another vulnerable location. “We were safer where we lived before,” said Janaki Majhi. “The river entered this place, not our old settlement.”

Government response

Following the flood, police and Armed Police Force personnel rescued residents and shifted them to safer locations, including facilities in Kharipati and Bode. A delegation led by Home Minister Sudan Gurung visited displaced families in Bhaktapur and apologized for shortcomings in the rehabilitation process.

During their visit, government ministers assured displaced families that rehabilitation efforts would be accelerated. Labor and Employment Minister Ramji Yadav said the government plans to create employment opportunities for squatters through skill-based training programmes. He said participants would receive allowances during training, certificates upon completion and support in finding jobs. Those interested in preparing for public service examinations would also be assisted, he added, promising that employment programmes would begin with the new fiscal year.

Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Pratibha Rawal reiterated the government’s commitment to providing land ownership certificates to eligible landless families. However, she acknowledged that the process would take time because of legal complexities. Urging families to submit accurate information, Rawal said the government was working toward a long-term solution but asked for patience while the necessary legal procedures were completed.

Despite these assurances, many displaced families remain unconvinced. Several residents said they have heard similar promises since they were evicted from the Bagmati riverbanks in April, yet continue to live in temporary shelters with no clear timeline for permanent rehabilitation.

The hardships extend beyond the lack of permanent housing. Residents at the Kharipati holding center say they have struggled to meet even their basic needs. After the government introduced subsistence allowances and encouraged families to arrange food on their own, meals at the center’s canteen stopped. The move sparked protests by residents, who banged their plates in protest, prompting the Bhaktapur Chief District Officer to order that food services resume. Even so, families say there is still a shortage of nutritious food, particularly for children, pregnant women, senior citizens and people with chronic illnesses.

Anjana Khadka, chief of the Bhaktapur Public Health Office, said some displaced residents have experienced mental health problems, although no serious psychiatric cases have been reported recently. According to local residents, many families have chosen to leave the holding centers and arrange accommodation on their own, saying that months of uncertainty and overcrowded living conditions have added to their mental stress.

Education Minister Sasmit Pokherel promised transportation for schoolchildren, healthcare services, employment opportunities, food assistance and accelerated efforts to provide land ownership certificates. Officials acknowledged that there had been management weaknesses in some temporary settlements despite efforts to identify safe locations.

Despite fresh assurances, many families remain skeptical.

Some have chosen to rent rooms or move in with relatives rather than continue living in holding centers. Others have no alternative and remain dependent on government assistance and humanitarian organizations. As monsoon rains continue, displaced families say they are no longer asking only for temporary shelter or financial relief.

They want what they say they were promised from the beginning: a safe, permanent place to call home. For many, the journey over the past three months has become a story of repeated displacement—first by bulldozers, then by floodwaters—raising difficult questions about whether relocation alone is enough if safety cannot be guaranteed.