A Childhood Interrupted by Flood: Durgeswari’s Family Rebuilds After the Flood

At 13 years old, Durgeswari Chowra is a student who, like many children, should be able to focus primarily on school, friends and growing up. But following the flood, her family faced a period of considerable uncertainty.

Durgeswari lives in Saura Basti with her family. Her father, Kartik Chowra, was the main income earner before the flood, relying on daily wage work and vegetable farming to support the household. The family earned approximately ₹6,000–₹8,500 per month. Kartik would move around the locality in search of work, while vegetable farming provided an additional source of food and income.

The household also included 10 poultry, which represented an important productive asset for the family.

The flood caused extensive damage to the family's household and livelihood assets. Their kitchen was completely damaged, while beds, furniture, cooking utensils, clothes, bedding and food stocks were lost.

School materials, including books, bags and stationery were also lost. For the two school-going children, these were not simply household possessions; they were essential to continuing their education.

The family's poultry was also affected, with 10 birds lost.

Their vegetable farming livelihood stopped because their agricultural land was left covered with mud after the flood. Tools, equipment, agricultural inputs and seeds were also lost, making it difficult for the family to restart cultivation immediately.

Kartik repaired the damaged kitchen himself, enabling the family to continue living in their own house.

Despite the difficulties faced by her family, Durgeswari's words are simple and hopeful:

“Do not lose hope. Everything will be alright.” — Durgeswari Chowra, 13

Her words capture an important dimension of recovery: alongside material assistance, families need the confidence and support to rebuild their lives after a disaster.

The family currently lives in their own repaired house, but important basic services remain unavailable.

The family has received food support, household items, and shelter materials from SEEDS and other organisations. However, significant recovery needs remain.

They do not have access to safe drinking water and do not have a functioning toilet. Food is currently available, but the household can meet daily expenses only partially because Kartik's daily wage work is irregular.

Markets and transportation are accessible, but the lack of regular employment means the family remains economically vulnerable.

The family's remaining needs include sanitation, livelihood recovery and health-related support. For Durgeswari and her sister, recovery also means being able to remain in school and continue their education without another prolonged interruption.

Together, let’s help Dugeswari and her family build a safe livelihood.

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Your contribution will support SEEDS’ flood response and recovery efforts for affected families based on assessed needs.

Indicative Recovery Requirement

Based on an initial indicative assessment, Durgeswari's recovery requirement could be around ₹90,000. Around ₹20,000 is indicated for medical treament. A further ₹20,000 is indicated for replacing the domestic animals lost, based on a typical small mixed holding for the area, to be confirmed through field verification. ₹20,000 is set aside for household utensils and essential items, and ₹30,000 for continued sanitation and drinking water support during the recovery period.

Note: Recovery requirements and costs are indicative and subject to field and technical verification. Support will be prioritised according to assessed household needs.