When the earth started shaking, Kancha Pakhrin was in his home in the remote village of Thangpalkot of Sindhupalchok. His two-month-old and two-year sons, and 80-year-old partially blind mother were inside the house.
WE ARE FAMILY: Kancha Pakhrin lost his wife and two-month-old baby when his home in Sindhupalchok collapsed in the earthquake last month. His worry now is how to feed and educate those still living, including his mother (at back) who broke her leg and still hasn’t got treatment. Photo: Devaki BistaKancha was weeding his cornfield, and saw his wife, Chameli, rush into the house to save her boys. The house collapsed in a cloud of dust.
Chameli was later found dead amidst the ruins, she was holding her baby tightly in her arms. But the baby died 17 days later, possibly due to malnourishment and lack of care. His mother broke her leg, but managed to save the older boy.
Among Kancha’s three other children, Kirti is studying in Delhi, his mother hasn’t been able to go to hospital to get her broken leg treated even though helicopters fly overhead all the time.
Two-year-old Jivan keeps asking Kancha where his mother is, as does his other son, Sandip. “What do I tell them?” Kancha asks. His sister-in-law Gita has come from Delhi, and says Kriti still doesn’t know her mother is dead.
“I think I will go mad with worry about how to take care of my remaining family,” Kancha says. “How will I feed them, how will I educate them?”
Devaki Bista