Sange Sherpa of Khijiphalate-5 in Okhaldhunga district had gone missing in a landslide triggered by the April 25 earthquake in Langtang, Rasuwa. His body has yet to be recovered four months after the disaster.
Three months into his disappearance, Sange’s family gave up hope of finding him alive and performed his final rituals. Now his wife Kami and two children are struggling with their lives. “Our house was destroyed in the quake and we are staying under tarpaulins now,” said Kami, adding that they hardly have enough to eat. Some social organisations did provide them some food stuffs but they were insufficient.
“We are in pitiful condition and don’t know how to lead our lives,” she said. The kin of Lucky Sherpa of Khijiphalate-6 too have similar story to tell. Lucky, who went to work in a Langtang hotel, has been missing since the day of the devastating quake. As Lucky was the sole bread winner in her house, the family has found itself in lurch. Lucky’s father, Pasang, said they have not received government relief till date.
Seventeen people from Okhaldhunga had gone missing in the avalanche on that fateful day in Langtang. Of them, nine were from Patle, three from Khijiphalate, four from Khijikatika and one from Bhusinga in Okhaldhunga district. But victims’ families are unable to retrieve the bodies of those missing. The victims’ families demanded that the government declare them as deceased persons and provide relief and compensation amount. Rinji Sherpa, a relative of one of the missing persons, said the government should provide facilities as their family members are no more alive. “The authorities are dilly-dallying in providing compensation,” he said.
When asked to clarify the situation, Assistant Chief District Officer of Okhaldhunga Nagendra Poudel said the Home Ministry had not sent a letter of missing persons in the district. “We have not received the list of missing persons even from Rasuwa,” he said, adding that eight of the missing persons had been identified in the district.
Thursday 13 August 2015
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2015/08/12/news/kin-of-quake-missing-want-relief-compensation/279485.html
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