Woman, 21, dies in freezing ‘menstruation hut’ where women in Nepal are forced to stay during their periods – just weeks after similar death
- Parbati Bogati, 21, found dead in a ‘menstruation hut’ in western Nepal
- She had lit a fire for warmth in the night, and likely died of smoke inhalation
- Many communities in Nepal view women as ‘untouchable’ when on their period
- Government has outlawed the tradition of sending women to ‘menstruation huts’
- Ms Bogati’s death came after mother and two children died in another such hut
A Nepali woman has died of suspected smoke inhalation while banished to a hut during her period, police said Sunday.
Parbati Bogati, 21, was found dead in a smoke-filled hut on Thursday morning in the western Doti district when her mother-in-law went to check on her.
The incident came just weeks after the deaths of a mother and two children in similar circumstances sparked outrage.
Parbati Bogati, 21, was found dead in a smoke-filled ‘menstruation hut’ having been sent to stay there during her period – a practice which is illegal in Nepal (file photo)
‘We suspect she died due to smoke inhalation and suffocation because she closed the door of the windowless hut and lit a fire on the floor for warmth during the night,’ local police officer Lal Bahadur Dhami told AFP.
The body has been sent for autopsy, Dhami said.
Many communities in Nepal view menstruating women as impure and in some remote areas they are forced to sleep in a hut away from the home, following a centuries-old tradition known as ‘chhaupadi’.
Chhaupadi was outlawed in 2005 but is still enforced in parts of Nepal, particularly in remote and conservative western regions.
The practice is linked to Hinduism and considers women untouchable during menstruation and after childbirth.
The tragic incident took place in Nepal’s western Doti district last week
Under Chhaupadi, women are barred from touching food, religious icons, cattle and men.
Just three weeks ago a mother and her two sons in neighbouring Bajura district died of suspected smoke inhalation while observing the tradition.
Their deaths prompted locals to demolish chhaupadi sheds in their village and local authorities to warn that services would be denied to anyone forcing their daughters and daughters-in-law to follow the banned practice.
Last year, Kathmandu introduced a three-months jail sentence and a 3,000 Nepalese rupee (£21) fine for anyone caught imposing chhaupadi.
Ganga Chaudhary, a lawmaker who was involved in the drafting of the legislation, said much more needs to be done to enforce the law and change social norms.
‘We have realised that only legal provisions are not enough to end such practices. We need to focus on awareness and educating women,’ Chaudhary said.