Biku Krishna Dulal, 40, of Bhaktapur was woken by the sound of gushing flood on Thursday morning. Around 4:30 in the morning, flood a tributary of Hanumante Khola had barged inside her makeshift tent while her family members were in deep slumber.

 

Dulal rushed out of her tent carrying her newly born son under her arms where her in-laws and husband were waiting for her.

 

According to Dulal, the floods had submerged the area four feet above the ground. "Our tents were almost submerged in the water. Thanks to God, none of my family members are hurt," she said.

 

Though her family members remained safe, it washed away the family's belongings. What remained were a pair of dirt smashed blanket and bundle of tattered clothes. The greatest misery is the realization that Dulal and her family members have been displaced again.

 

The massive earthquake of April 25 had completely destroyed her house at Bhaktapur-2. She had lost her mother in the quake and her husband and mother-in-law sustained spinal injuries.

 

Since the quake, Dulal and her family members have been living under makeshift tents at Maisuri Chaur of Bhaktapur -5. But since the area is flooded, she has no clue where to go for shelter and food.

 

The plight of another quake hit victim, Rajamati Kayamali, is no less different. The tent, which was a home for her joint family since the earthquake, is tattered and cannot stand the wrath of the monsoon rain that has intensified rainfall across the country.

 

Hours after the flooding, she along with her children sat next to her damaged tent. Her eyes were moist with tears and both hands and legs were covered with thick mud patches.

 

"It seems that my family has been cursed. Why is that, only it has to bear nature's anger? The earthquake destroyed everything we had, the rain tattered out tent and now the flood has ravaged the ground, making it inhabitable," said Kayamali.

 

A native of Bhaktapur-4, she had lost all her property including her house and mother-in-law during the earthquake. "Sometimes I don't think God really exist or these sufferings are his tests," she said.

 

Post earthquake, the ground has been a home for over 250 quake hit families like that of Dulal and Kayamali. Over 46 tents have been set on this ground and most of these victims are from Bhaktapur Sub Metropolitan City Ward -1, 2, 6 and 7.

 

It has been estimated that around 60 houses in Bhaktapur district have been inundated due to Thursday's heavy rain. Besides the quake victims, Jagati, Bhelukhel, Ram Mandir and Barahisthan area locals have been hard hit by the flood.

 

The flood was unprecedented. Even the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) did not anticipate it. Hydrologist at DHM, Binod Parajuli explained that such occurrences cannot be predicted by the department. "To predict rainfall status for a small area like Bhaktapur is not possible. Such prediction is a challenge all over the world, not only in Nepal," said Parajuli.