Ilam, Oct. 9 -- Raju Chhetri's house in Manebhanjyang in ward 1 of Suryodaya Municipality in Ilam was filled with laughter and warmth during the Dashain. Guests had arrived, Raju was preparing for a trip to Sandakpur, and joy filled the air. But within hours, the festive cheer turned into an unthinkable tragedy.

"Everything disappeared in a blink," said Raju, his eyes swollen with grief. "The house, my mother, my little daughter-everything was gone with the landslide."

On Saturday night, due to incessant rainfall, a massive landslide swept through the settlement. Raju's 55-year-old mother Manamaya Chhetri and 10-year-old daughter Rasmika were buried beneath the debris. His relatives-Dip Basnet, his wife Bhawani, and daughter Deepa-who h...