Woman Dies in Kanchanpur After Being Forced into Chhaupadi Practice

 KANCHANPUR, JULY 13 — Kamala Aauji, a 28-year-old mother of three from Nigali, Krishnapur Municipality-1 in Kanchanpur, died after being bitten by a snake while observing the harmful tradition of chhaupadi — menstrual seclusion. She had recently returned from India, where she worked as a laborer with her husband, and had come home to focus on her children’s education. With the money she earned abroad, Kamala had even built a concrete house for her family.

On the evening of Friday, July 11, Kamala got her period and followed the traditional practice of staying outside the home in a separate hut during menstruation. Her usual hut near her home was leaking due to heavy rain, so she stayed in a chhau hut at her elder brother-in-law Suke Aauji’s house nearby.

That night, while sleeping alone, she was bitten on the cheek by a venomous krait snake. Realizing what had happened, Kamala called for help. A neighbor, Suchitra Shah, said they rushed her to Seti Provincial Hospital in an auto-rickshaw around 12:30 am. However, due to a shortage of ICU beds and ventilators, treatment was delayed by nearly an hour and a half. Despite efforts to save her, Kamala died the following evening around 8 pm.

She leaves behind three sons aged 6, 8, and 12. Her husband, Puran Aauji, is returning from India for her funeral. Kamala’s body remains in the hospital morgue, awaiting collection.

Kamala, originally from Mellekh Rural Municipality-8 of Achham district, was observing chhaupadi — a practice based on the belief that menstruating women are impure and can anger gods if they stay inside the home.

Deadly Practice Persists Despite Awareness and Laws

Krishnapur Mayor Hemraj Ojha said efforts have been underway to eliminate chhaupadi, including awareness campaigns and the demolition of huts. Some huts in Ward 1 were destroyed, but the practice continues, especially among families originally from Achham, where the tradition is deeply rooted.

Kamala’s tragic death is not an isolated case. Last year, in August 2023, a 16-year-old girl named Anita Chand from Baitadi also died from a snakebite while sleeping in a chhau hut.

The government has taken steps to eliminate the practice. Between Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces, over 7,500 chhau huts have been torn down — 5,813 in Achham alone. In Kanchanpur, 230 huts were demolished. Still, the tradition persists in many rural and even accessible areas.

Despite a law passed in 2017 (Muluki Criminal Code, Clause 168), which criminalizes chhaupadi and prescribes jail time and fines, enforcement is weak. Women are still being forced into seclusion, putting their health and lives at risk.

“Even Educated People Still Follow It”

Activist Pashupati Kunwar, who works to end chhaupadi, called Kamala’s death a tragedy that reflects the failure of the system. She says that even educated families continue the practice due to social pressure and the belief that it is part of culture.

“People are aware of the law, but still secretly follow chhaupadi out of fear and tradition,” Kunwar said. “Even in places like the Terai, where awareness is expected to be higher, the practice continues.”

She believes local leaders have failed in their duty to end the tradition and should be held accountable, not just those who force women into huts. “Until responsible officials also face consequences, these preventable deaths will keep happening,” she warned.

Kamala Aauji’s death is yet another painful reminder that chhaupadi is not just a harmful custom—it is a matter of life and death.