It was four and a half years ago. Melamchi suddenly faced disaster. A massive landslide in Bhremathang, located within the Lamtang National Park, swept away nearly 500 households.

 Melamchi, which has become a hub for Melamchi Bazaar, seems peaceful at the moment . Even now, the flooded fields, precariously built houses and temporary huts on the banks remind us of that time of disaster .

A study conducted by the Nature Resources Center two years ago showed that the Melamchi floods caused economic losses worth 5 million US dollars . Melamchi Municipality suffered losses of 436 million US dollars, or about 58.86 billion rupees, and Helambu Rural Municipality suffered losses of 24.56 million US dollars, or about 27.61 billion rupees . According to the study report, the average economic loss per household was 52,113 US dollars, or about 7 million 35 thousand rupees . But the relief provided to the affected people is very minimal .

Four and a half years have passed since the disaster . However, the flood-affected people in Melamchi, Helambu and Panchpokhari Thangpal areas have neither received complete relief nor been able to be safely resettled. The conclusion of both local representatives and the study is the same - the problem is not only with resources, but also with policies and systems.

Damage of 57 billion, budget of 1 billion

Deputy Mayor of Melamchi Municipality Uma Pradhan says that the local government is constrained by budget limits. She said, "It is said that the Melamchi flood caused damage worth about 57 billion rupees. But the annual budget of our municipality is only 1.20-30 billion. In such a situation, the local government cannot do the work of moving those at risk to a safe place."

According to her, the municipality has carried out general relief, livelihood-related programs and some rehabilitation work. But relocation of vulnerable settlements, safe housing and long-term rehabilitation are not possible without the federal budget and special programs. She said that the local level does not have the resources and that the federal government should pay special attention to this.

Panchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality Chairman Tasi Lama comments that the main reason for the lack of justice for the victims of the Melamchi flood is the narrow definition of the law. He said, "Yesterday the river was 10 meters below the house, now it is 10 meters above. The law does not consider a beneficiary just because the house has not collapsed."

He said that a large amount of cultivable land has been converted into swamps, motorable bridges, suspension bridges, irrigation canals and drinking water sources have been destroyed, adding that the law does not cover the permanent damage to agricultural land, loss of livelihood and future risks and that this issue does not fall within the scope of compensation. He added, ‘Unless the local government is given the right to provide fast-track compensation for disasters, the victims will not get relief.’

Helambu Rural Municipality Chairperson Nima Gyalzen Sherpa comments that comparing the Melamchi flood with a normal disaster is unfair at first glance. He said, ‘Somewhere one or two houses are destroyed, somewhere five to six hundred houses are destroyed.’ But the procedure is the same – you get five hundred thousand.’

He argued that relief and rehabilitation should be arranged according to the nature of the disaster and the damage data, but while the local government can address minor damage, the federal government should prioritize addressing major damage and take the initiative to raise international finance. He said, ‘5-600 houses have been destroyed in Helambu, Panchpokhari and Melamchi. That too should not be put under the same criteria. What should be considered when nine to ten houses are destroyed?’ What should be considered when a hundred or two hundred houses are destroyed? These things should be provided for in the act. Separate arrangements should be made for rehabilitation according to the nature of the disaster.'

Stating that hundreds of families in Helambu are in long-term displacement, he said, 'A tent built for one or two years is not enough. A structure that will last at least three or four years is needed.' He said that since the local government lacks resources, a separate act and budget are needed according to the size of the disaster.

The policy does not cover non-economic damage

The most neglected aspect of the Melamchi flood is the non-economic damage. According to a study conducted by the Nature Resources Center on 120 households in Melamchi Municipality and Helambu Rural Municipality, 85 percent of the affected people are experiencing psychosocial problems, while 58 percent have suffered damage to cultural and religious sites. 70 percent have depression and 57 percent have anxiety-related symptoms.

The disruption to temples, rituals, and practices associated with collective identity has affected the social structure of the community. But there is no clear policy, budget, or institutional responsibility to address such psychosocial and cultural losses.

The floods have caused severe damage to homes, farmland, crops, livestock, and agricultural infrastructure, and livelihoods have been lost as farmland has been turned into mudslides. But the existing relief structure has not been able to account for such permanent damage.

The Climate Change Policy 2019 does not clarify the type of damage. The Disaster Management Act prioritizes homes, deaths, and injuries, but does not cover agricultural land, culture, and mental health. Coordination between the federal, provincial, and local levels is weak. This policy gap has left the Melamchi flood unresolved for four and a half years.