Kathmandu, Oct. 20 -- Tenzing Dolma Ghale has lived in Kathmandu since childhood for her studies, but Dashain has always meant going home. For the 20-year-old, the festival brings back memories of her childhood and village, and the chance to reunite with family, relatives and friends. This year, however, that annual homecoming was impossible. Her house is gone, and so is the road to her village.

"Having lived here since I was a child, I have always thought of Dashain as the time to go home. This year, I have neither a home nor a road to get there," she said.

The Bhotekoshi flood on August 26 swept away Ghale's house and the road leading to her village. She also lost her father. Now living at Mustang Gumba in Swayambhu, Kathmandu, she fa...