Death of Breadwinners Leaves Laborers' Families Desperate
Daman Rai
Mejar Rai, 38, of Dikuwa VDC-8, and Surendra Rai, 24, of Chyasmitar VDC-8, who died in Tuesday's bus accident at Mahadevsthan VDC in Khotang district were daily wage laborers.
Mejar and Surendra used to work as construction workers for development projects and support their families on wages earned on a daily basis.
On Tuesday, the last day of the last year as per Nepali calendar, while they were returning home after finishing their work at Hurlung-Jalpa road section, the ill-fated bus met with an accident killing 24 persons including them.
Mejar and Surendra's family members have become helpless following their death. They have lost both their guardians and breadwinners.
Mejar is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons.
"Two of his children are studying while other two are too young to attend school," said their neighbor Ramesh Rai. "Their father's death is a big set back for the children."
Similar is the plight of Surendra's family. The eight-member-family does not know what they are going to eat the next day. His father Ram Kumar Rai was also severely injured in the accident. He is currently receiving treatment in Kathmandu.
"The worse days of Surendra's families started after his death," Dan Kumar Rai, principal of a higher secondary school in Chyasmitar, said.
Like them, 15 laborers from Udaypur and Khotang district were among the 24 persons killed in the accident.
Published on: 14 April 2016 | Republica
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