A tragic birthday: Loss and survival amid the landslides in Nepal
When SOS Children’s Villages Nepal visited flood-affected areas in Panauti, Kavre, in early October, five-year-old Sugam* was playing joyfully with his friends, his laughter masking the tragedy that had unfolded days earlier.
On September 28, Sugam’s birthday, he lost his mother in one of the worst floods Nepal has seen in a generation.
It began on September 26 when Sugam and his mother, Savita, visited family in Panauti. Heavy rain started the next day, continuing through the night. By the morning of September 28, landslide risks became severe, and villagers rushed out of their homes to safety.
Sugam had been staying nearby with his grandmother, Shanta. Together, they hurried to find Savita and Sugam's aunt. But before they could reach them, a landslide buried the house where Savita and her sister slept. Shanta, in a desperate attempt to save her daughters, was also caught in the landslide. Savita and her sister died, while Shanta was left paralyzed from the waist down.
Sugam witnessed it all. He points out the exact spot to visitors, saying, "The landslide buried my mother here."
Unprecedented floods
Sugam’s family members were among over 240 people who died after three days of intense monsoon rains triggered widespread floods and landslides in Nepal. Over 80,000 people were affected, with 10,000 homes destroyed or damaged and 50,000 displaced. At least 190 schools were also damaged, disrupting education for 23,000 children.
In recent months, other regions of the world—West and Central Africa and parts of Europe—have also been devastated by major floods. The rise in climate-induced disasters worsens poverty and illness risks, increasing the chance of family breakdowns. Children like Sugam, tragically, lose parental care.
Sugam finds a home at SOS Children’s Villages
SOS Children’s Villages Nepal, working with the government and NGOs, focuses on meeting the urgent needs of families affected by disasters to prevent family breakdowns.
Sugam lost more than his mother and aunt. He also lost the chance to know his father, whose identity remains unknown. After learning about the pregnancy, Savita’s partner abandoned her, leaving her to raise Sugam alone. She returned to her village to give birth and later moved to Kathmandu to work as a house helper.
Life in the village had always been hard for Sugam’s grandparents. His grandfather, Kancha, did heavy labour to make ends meet. Their home, rebuilt by a charity after the 2015 earthquake, was also swept away by the landslide. "The landslide took the house one organization built for us," Kancha says, grief-stricken. "And it buried two of my daughters."
With his wife bedridden and no stable income, Kancha faces the burden of raising Sugam alone. The family’s financial situation is dire, with medical expenses piling up, no house, and no livelihood. For now, Sugam is staying with relatives.
Alternative care should be the last resort for children in need of care. After assessing Sugam’s situation, SOS Children’s Villages Nepal determined that alternative care would be the best option for his wellbeing. The process of bringing Sugam to SOS Children’s Villages in Kavre is being expedited in collaboration with local authorities.
As Savita didn’t have a citizenship certificate, Sugam lacks a birth certificate. SOS Children’s Villages is working with local representatives to secure his legal identity and rights.
To help children like Sugam, sponsor a child or donate to the SOS MAYDAY Emergency Relief Fund, which equips us to act swiftly and effectively to support children and families during emergencies and to build resilience against future disasters in the communities we support. Please donate to this fund to enable us to respond when crises occur.
*Name changed to protect privacy.