KATHMANDU, May 1: On Friday morning, as bulldozers moved into the informal settlement at Balkhu, 61-year-old Indra Bahadur Rai stepped out of his home with a quiet but telling remark—he could not bear to watch it being torn down.
By afternoon, he was found dead in the Bagmati River.
Rai’s body was discovered near the same settlement that had been cleared earlier in the day, marking a tragic end to what his family describes as a moment of deep distress. His family members reported that he was deeply depressed after his house was demolished.
Dead body of man found in Balkhu
His wife, Sarita Rai, and their son remained at the riverbank as police began their preliminary inquiry, their grief unfolding in the same place where their home once stood.
For over 16 years, the Rai family had lived in the Balkhu settlement—one of many informal communities that have grown along the banks of the Bagmati. Like many residents there, Rai made a living through daily labour, working at the nearby Balkhu vegetable market, according to locals.
Friday’s eviction, part of an ongoing effort to clear riverbank encroachments, has displaced numerous families, many of whom now find themselves without immediate alternatives. For some, the loss is material; for others, it cuts deeper.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of Rai’s death. The District Police Range, Kathmandu, said it is in contact with the family and has launched further investigation.
But for those who knew him, the sequence of events—from eviction to death within hours—has left behind troubling questions and a stark reminder of the human cost that often shadows urban enforcement drives.
