"It sends shivers down the spine when I notice clouds over there. There's a possibility of similar avalanche," said Pemba, who was spotted near the settlement that was washed away by the avalanche after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake. "That avalanche took away all my dear ones. Many others died. It destroyed the entire beauty of Langtang. "
The survivors took shelter in the Yellow Gumba of the capital and elsewhere. "What we had never imagined happened right before our eyes. Worse might follow again. The clouds give us such feeling," she added. Five others, who were listening to her, nodded in unison. They lamented that the disaster snatched not only their loved ones but also their livelihood.
"We didn't know time could be so cruel. There is no land even if we want to labor for our living," said Nihma Lama. "This place has turned into a graveyard. There's no life," she added.
Over 85 dead bodies, reported missing in the Langtang avalanche, have not been excavated yet, while 215 were unearthed. Among 440 people of 120 households rendered homeless due to the earthquake and avalanche, 350 are presently in Langtang. They allege that they are in a state of utter dismay but the government does not show its presence at all.
"Langtang has become lifeless. The melodious tunes played in Budhha Gumba are not heard anymore. The breathtaking settlement has turned to a desert. Everything looks dead," said Karnal Lama of Rasuwa. "However, we need to forget the pain and rebuild our village."
Meanwhile, Subba Tamang, vice president of Langtang Reconstruction Committee, stated that Langtang should regain its life at any cost. "Langtang is not only the identity of Rasuwa, but also the pride of the entire nation. Yet, the government has shown such apathy toward it," he said. Urging the government to help Langtang reclaim its aura, Tamang added that Langang has to overcome all challenges to regain its lost glory.
According to Nihma Lama, though the wish for the 'earlier Langatang' is strong in everyone's heart, the risk of yet another avalanche has been bothering the locals. "It's been eight months but the government has not done anything for us. We never know when again a similar disaster will hit us. Clouds keep showing in the sky," said Nihma.
Nihma's husband Chhuwang Thile was talking to her over the phone while climbing a cliff when the avalanche struck and he disappeared forever. "The gloomy scene around here makes me feel that time has not moved bit."
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