Kanchanpur, Aug. 24 -- Prakash Budha of Tikapur, Kailali, was among several Nepalis working as labourers in Dharali of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India, when flash floods swept away the settlement three weeks ago.

Budha, his brother Ramesh, and seven others were employed at a hotel under construction in the Dharali Bazar. Some of their wages were pending when the floods, triggered by heavy rainfall in the Kheer Ganga river, destroyed the area.

"The money I had kept in the room was washed away, and the owner refused to pay the pending amount," Budha said. "Around 30,000 to 35,000 Indian rupees in wages were due. Before returning home, the owner gave me only 5,000 rupees."

Budha lost his brother Ramesh and sister-in-law Priya in t...