This story was translated from Nepali. Read the original in Nepali
Shivu Khanal
Deukhuri. Susmita Chaudhary of Bangaun, Lamahi Municipality ward no. 3, is going through the hardest time of her life. Thinking of the future of the child growing in her womb, she spends her days hoping her husband Sambhujit Chaudhary will come home. But since Sambhujit went missing after the flood in Rasuwa on Bhadau 10, pain and uncertainty have filled Susmita’s life more than happiness. Sambhujit had been working for about nine years at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project in Rasuwa. Having long worked far from home to support his family, he was this time preparing to return home. His last phone contact was with his brother Umesh Chaudhary at 8:22 am on Bhadau 10. On the phone, he said the company had approved his leave and that he was getting ready to come home.
Her husband’s news that ‘my leave to come home has been approved’ was happy news for Susmita. Pregnant and waiting for the day he would return, she had dreamed of sitting together and making plans for the days ahead. But news of the flood that came soon after turned that joy into pain. After the flood, Sambhujit could not be reached. His fate is still uncertain for the family. With no definite news about her husband on one side and the responsibility of the child in her womb on the other, Susmita’s pain has grown even heavier.
Lamahi drinking water organisation helps families of three missing in Rasuwa
Lamahi Drinking Water Users and Sanitation Organisation, Lamahi, has given financial support to the families of three people from Lamahi who went missing in Rasuwa. The organisation helped the families of Sharad Kumar Chaudhary of Lamahi Municipality ward no. 4, Siwani Chaudhary of Khairi, Lamahi Municipality ward no. 6, and Sambhujit Chaudhary of Bangaun, Lamahi Municipality ward no. 3, who went missing while working in Rasuwa. According to the organisation’s secretary Basanta Acharya, a total of Rs 88,500 was given: Rs 25,000 each to the three families from the organisation, Rs 75,000 in all, plus Rs 13,500 collected from the organisation’s executive committee and advisers.
The organisation said the support was given to bring some relief to the families in their time of sorrow, as they are under mental and financial pressure from searching for their relatives, rescue efforts and the necessary procedures.
Sanam Kumar Paudel, chair of the Lamahi Drinking Water Users and Sanitation Organisation, said standing with victims’ families in times of disaster is the duty of social organisations. ‘When user members of our own community face disaster, it is our human duty to help as much as we can,’ he said. ‘More than whether the amount is big or small, we gave this support so that we could offer the families company and reassurance in their time of pain. We wish that all those missing are found and rescued safely.’ Chair Paudel also stressed that local governments, organisations and communities must come together to give victims’ families the support they need in times of disaster.
With some people from Lamahi going missing in the Rasuwa disaster, worry and pain have grown in their families. Various organisations and the community have been coming forward to support them.
‘I was happy at the news he was coming home, but…’
For Sambhujit’s father Tulsiram Chaudhary too, his son’s situation has become very painful. He says the family has been in grief and confusion since the flood made his son go missing just when he was about to come home after years of working as the family’s support. Susmita’s pregnancy has added to the family’s worry. They are constantly anxious about the search for her husband and about the family’s future. In this situation, local residents and social workers of Bangaun have given financial support to the Chaudhary family. Rs 65,205 collected from local people has been handed over to Susmita Chaudhary. Likewise, local social worker Kashiram Dangi gave Rs 5,550, Basanta Sharma ‘Bikrant’ Rs 3,300 and Bhim Wali Rs 2,500. Local people and social workers gave the support in view of Susmita’s pregnancy and the family’s difficult situation. Sambhujit had been getting ready to come home, and the family had been waiting to welcome him. But the flood that came within hours of his telling them he was coming home took that happiness away.
Now Susmita’s eyes hold a single question: ‘When will my husband come home?’ The uncertainty over whether she will ever be able to show the child, once born, its father’s face has deepened her pain. The family, however, says the search for Sambhujit will continue, and they hope he will one day return home safely.
Four from Lamahi missing in the Rasuwa flood
Four people from Lamahi Municipality have gone missing because of the flood in Rasuwa on Bhadau 10. Sambhujit Chaudhary of Lamahi Municipality ward no. 3, Sharad Kumar Chaudhary and Sukdev Chaudhary of ward no. 4, and Siwani Chaudhary of ward no. 6 went missing after the flood. Sambhujit worked at Mailung Hydropower, Sharad Kumar and Sukdev at Trishuli Hydropower, and Siwani had been working as a daily-wage labourer in Rasuwa. Family members say their whereabouts have been unknown since the flood.
