It is a notorious picture of the Nepal Earthquake: an infant, covered in dust, being held up by rescuers subsequent to being uncovered alive (pic, beneath) following 22 hours from the rubble of his home in Bhaktapur.
Sonish Awale was only five months old, and the account of his marvelous survival made main stories in daily papers and magazines, and went the world over. Two months on, after incalculable meetings to columnists the Awal family is still destitute however feel honored that both their kids are alive.
Sonish Awale was only five months old, and the account of his marvelous survival made main stories in daily papers and magazines, and went the world over. Two months on, after incalculable meetings to columnists the Awal family is still destitute however feel honored that both their kids are alive.
"Sonish is a cheerful tyke," says his mom, Rashmila, as she leads us to the ground floor of a companion's home in Bhaktapur where the family has been remaining. "He has begun to remember me now." The child, now seven months old, takes a gander at his mom and grins on sign.
After their building caved in on 25 April, neighbors and Army rescuers attempted hysterically to uncover the infant from the under the rubble. They safeguarded Rashmila's girl Sonia, yet they surrendered as night fell. The following morning, Rashmila heard a weak cry from the remains of their four-story home and the fighters returned to uncover him.
After their building caved in on 25 April, neighbors and Army rescuers attempted hysterically to uncover the infant from the under the rubble. They safeguarded Rashmila's girl Sonia, yet they surrendered as night fell. The following morning, Rashmila heard a weak cry from the remains of their four-story home and the fighters returned to uncover him.
Today Sonish shows no sign of the ordeal except for a scar on his left thigh. He coos and gurgles as he tries to crawl on the floor of the unfurnished room. “Everything was stolen from the house including the gas cylinder and cooking utensils,” says Rashmila. “All I could salvage were a few clothes.”
The family had been living in a tent at a school, but had to vacate when classes resumed last month. Sonish fell ill and lost a lot of weight, and with the rains coming Rashmila didn’t want to take any chances. Unable to afford a room to rent, Rashmila’s friend agreed to let her live in a room in their house.
“My husband is out of work, we don’t even have enough money to buy new utensils or furniture,” she says, looking at the bare room. “For now we are sharing a room and kitchen with my friend. But you cannot depend on others forever.”
The family had been living in a tent at a school, but had to vacate when classes resumed last month. Sonish fell ill and lost a lot of weight, and with the rains coming Rashmila didn’t want to take any chances. Unable to afford a room to rent, Rashmila’s friend agreed to let her live in a room in their house.
“My husband is out of work, we don’t even have enough money to buy new utensils or furniture,” she says, looking at the bare room. “For now we are sharing a room and kitchen with my friend. But you cannot depend on others forever.”
Today Sonish shows no sign of the ordeal except for a scar on his left thigh. He coos and gurgles as he tries to crawl on the floor of the unfurnished room. “Everything was stolen from the house including the gas cylinder and cooking utensils,” says Rashmila. “All I could salvage were a few clothes.”
The family had been living in a tent at a school, but had to vacate when classes resumed last month. Sonish fell ill and lost a lot of weight, and with the rains coming Rashmila didn’t want to take any chances. Unable to afford a room to rent, Rashmila’s friend agreed to let her live in a room in their house.
“My husband is out of work, we don’t even have enough money to buy new utensils or furniture,” she says, looking at the bare room. “For now we are sharing a room and kitchen with my friend. But you cannot depend on others forever.”
Sonia Awal was also rescued alive and now baby sits her baby brother when she is home from school.
Sonia Awal was also rescued alive and now baby sits her baby brother when she is home from school.
Shyam Awal is a driver, but with construction stopped by a government ban till mid-July he can’t find a job. “They have told him there may be no work till Dasain,” says Rashmila, who had to borrow money from her sister for Sonia’s school uniform. And only reason she can go to school is because someone paid her school fees.
Rashmila used to knit sweaters and socks to earn money, but she has her hands full with little Sonish who starts crying the moment he is left alone. After what she went through, Rashmila can’t let her baby out of her sight.
Still glad that the family is alive, Rashmila can’t help worrying about the future. The little money they had saved has all been used up, and the house and property is co-owned by three of Shyam’s brothers.
Says Rashmila: “Both my children were buried under the rubble and miraculously both of them survived, and that is more than all the money in the world.”
The family had been living in a tent at a school, but had to vacate when classes resumed last month. Sonish fell ill and lost a lot of weight, and with the rains coming Rashmila didn’t want to take any chances. Unable to afford a room to rent, Rashmila’s friend agreed to let her live in a room in their house.
“My husband is out of work, we don’t even have enough money to buy new utensils or furniture,” she says, looking at the bare room. “For now we are sharing a room and kitchen with my friend. But you cannot depend on others forever.”
Sonia Awal was also rescued alive and now baby sits her baby brother when she is home from school.
Sonia Awal was also rescued alive and now baby sits her baby brother when she is home from school.
Shyam Awal is a driver, but with construction stopped by a government ban till mid-July he can’t find a job. “They have told him there may be no work till Dasain,” says Rashmila, who had to borrow money from her sister for Sonia’s school uniform. And only reason she can go to school is because someone paid her school fees.
Rashmila used to knit sweaters and socks to earn money, but she has her hands full with little Sonish who starts crying the moment he is left alone. After what she went through, Rashmila can’t let her baby out of her sight.
Still glad that the family is alive, Rashmila can’t help worrying about the future. The little money they had saved has all been used up, and the house and property is co-owned by three of Shyam’s brothers.
Says Rashmila: “Both my children were buried under the rubble and miraculously both of them survived, and that is more than all the money in the world.”
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