Page 23 - Mousumi
P. 23

Vizaj (In tears): I hope you remember the series of
               landslides  &  hilly  area  which  was  rocked  by

               massive landslides one week ago.

               Resto:  Ya,  I  remember  actually  we  were  out  of

               station at that time due to several different reasons.
               I read the newspaper to catch up on the news.

               Vizaj:  This  is  that  same  trekking  route  that  was

               severely destructed by the landslide & my parents
               were killed when the mudhouse they were in was
               buried under a landslide. Torrential rains triggered

               heavy  landsliding  at  that  time.  Actually,  my
               parents were returning from my uncle’s house. My
               uncle was paralyzed due to intense cold. On their

               way,  they  faced  glacial  lake  outburst  flood  &  a
               series  of  landslides.  To  seek  help  in  some  way,
               they approached one mudhouse. Two occupants of

               the  mudhouse,  a  newlywed  couple  helped  them.
               They  gave  them  shelter  &  a  ray  of  hope.  The
               weather  was  deteriorating  at  that  time.  After

               continuous heavy downpour, the mounds & hills of
               the  area  started  sliding  &  my  lifelines  &  that
               newly-wed  couple  got  buried  under  the  debris
               when  water  &  rocks  flowed  downhill.  With  my

               sister, I  was at my grandmother’s house. The local
               residents  of  the  place  just  narrated  my  parent’s
               fight for life & their sufferings. Some people were


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