Their nightmare began more than six months ago. As the flash floods in June wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand, six small villages of Deoli Bhanigram gram sabha in Ukhimath tehsil of Rudraprayag district lost 57 men. Their widows continue to battle quotidian difficulties of the unforgiving hills all alone – with little help from the administration. They have little idea how to keep their kitchen fires burning and how to build the future for their children once the government compensation – '5 lakh for each deceased – runs out.

 

They can hope for some relief as Sulabh International has adopted this “village of the widows”.