JAJARKOT, Aug 7: "Budha (husband), please don't die alone; we will have to die together. Where are our daughters? I am dying, how are you?" these were the words uttered by Sitala Luhar 15 minutes before breathing her last on Sunday. Sitala who was clutched by her husband under the debris of their landslide-buried house constantly asked her husband to make efforts to save her.
Sadly, despite making several efforts, her husband Lal Bahadur, 31, who was struck by a wooden log could do nothing except listening to the cries of his wife. The ravaging landslide, which struck Thantibazaar of Bheri Municipality, took her life. Even after being buried by the landslide, Sitala Luhar of Gangatiya was alive for half an hour but she had to lose her life in lack of rescue efforts.
He kept shouting for help but to no avail. As a result, his wife lost her life in his arms. With eyes full of regrets, Lal Bahadur said, "It was only yesterday when were planning to move to a safer place but we were held back by the torrential rain." He is currently receiving treatment at the district hospital.
Lets talk about suicide!!
Landslide also killed their three daughters. When Sitala was discussing about life and death with her husband in the last 30 minutes of her life, she saw her three years old daughter Sarita succumb to her injuries in front of her. She felt hopeless. Lal Bahadur and Sitala who had tied the nuptial knot 10 years ago after a love affair were separated by the devastating landslide of Sunday.
Not just that, their elder daughter Bahgwati's dream of being a teacher and second daughter Ranjana's dream of being a doctor were buried in the landslide. Nine years old Bhagwati and six years old Ranjana were studying together while Manisha was having her meal with her father when the massive landslide struck their house.
Three months ago, Lal Bahadur and his family had shifted to Thantibazaar with his family. He dropped his studies at the age of 13 to do labor and was managing his family of five with the earning of Rs.600 per day. The death of his wife and children has saddened the whole Thantibazaar.
Similarly, Sarita Nepali of Nalgad Municipality-3, Karuwa is going through a similar pain after losing her two brothers to Sunday's landslide. Since the death of her two brothers two years ago, Sarita was raising her five brothers all by herself. Unfortunately, her brothers Govinda Pariyar, 13 and Dashrath, 8, were killed in the landslide. With this, she is worried how she will raise her other three brothers.
Likewise, the family members of Prem Pariyar of Kushe Rural Municipality-5 have been equally grief-stricken. The family of journalist Tirtharaj Bohora who lost his eight years old daughter Najma is also in deep pain.
Locals are currently consoling the family members of the deceased with their words. Sunday's landslide killed altogether nine people including eight children and a woman.
