In other words, it had all the basic facilities that are required to make a model village, until a powerful earthquake shook the country at about 11:56 am on April 25 with its epicenter at Barpak village in the same district. In a matter of a few minutes, this 'model' village in remote Gorkha was flattened and turned into ruins.
Pokhtar is a small hamlet in Simjung Village Development Committee (VDC) which also lies in ruins. It is 13 kilometers south of Barpak. The locals have been now rendered homeless, without food and water and are spending nights in the open.
Snowfall hits Gorkha quake victims
Everyone here is in distress as the whole country is in the aftermath of the Great Quake. Twelve people were killed in Pokhtar. A power house on the slope above the village has also been covered by debris of a dry landslide triggered by the quake.
Most of the houses in Simjung were mud and stone houses as is common in rural Nepal. They had tin and slate roofs. The violent shaking of the earth on that fateful day destroyed these houses like the 'houses of cards'.
It is predominantly settled by the Magar people and is situated on a plateau. The soil at this place is also fertile and suitable for agriculture. The locals are worried more about how to rebuild this comparatively well-to-do village rather than about relief support.
"May be it will take about half a century to rebuild this village to its original status," shared a local Him Bahadur Ranamagar, with a dejected look in his face, standing on the courtyard of his ruined house. He was in great agony and crying not only because his house was completely destroyed but also because he lost his five-year-old dear daughter to the massive temblor.
"She would not eat until I came home and would always sleep with me. She always eagerly waited for me and was very clever. But, today, she left me forever," Him Bahadur recalled his daughter, with tear-filled eyes. Him Bahadur's wife and elder daughter are also soaked in great sorrow.
The locals are at present scouring the wreckage of their fallen houses looking for food grains and other goods.
As many as 40 families are living in a makeshift tent erected at the far-end of the village. These families are desperately waiting for government relief.
However, a group of youths from Pokhara which immediately reached Pokhtar with medicines and doctors won the hearts of the desperate villagers. The Pokhara youths had treated the wounded and also distributed some tents and foodstuff to them.
"We cannot live in tents for longer. Even the food that is cooked for many people does not taste good. But this has become our destiny for now," the locals said, expressing their helplessness. They want to return to their houses before the monsoon strikes.
Meanwhile, the first phase of search and rescue operation has wound up in Gorkha district. The Indian Army choppers and the United Nations have been ferrying rice and other essential commodities to various places in north Gorkha from the Palungtar airstrip and the ground at the Gorakhkali Rubber Industry at Majhuwa Deurali respectively. The Mountain Air helicopter has been pressed into service for rescuing the quake-injured people.
Over 90 per cent houses and sheds in Simjung and adjacent areas in north Gorkha have been ruined by the earthquake. Simjung is some 39 kilometres by dust road that goes along the bank of the Daraundi River from a place called Barha Kilo on the Aanbu Khaireni - Gorkha highway. Barpak and Laprak lie one hour by road from here.
The death toll in Gorkha district has reached 412 while the number of injured is over 1100 as of Sunday, according to the District Natural Disaster Rescue and Relief Committee, Gorkha. It said of the total 65,135 houses in the district, 45,608 are totally damaged and 2,767 are partially damaged. RSS
