The devastating flood in Bhotekoshi-Trishuli area has caused different levels of suffering to this village of Rasuva.
On one side, there is the pain of those people who lost everything including their farms and relatives in that terrible flood. On the other hand, there is the sorrow of those people whose families were not saved in the flood, but their fields were saved.
Gatlang village of Amachodingmo Rural Municipality-3 of Rasuwa is also called 'Black Village' by the local people.
Local public representatives have said that at least 29 people are missing in this village after the flood.
Although flood water did not reach the village, many people there still got affected by it. These people had gone to work in a market located near the village.
According to local representatives, container drivers from Gatlang village, shopkeepers and suppliers on the Rasuwa-Tibet border have lost their lives in that terrible flood.
'If the road is not built then...'
People of Tamang community live in this village. Apart from losing their loved ones in the flood, this village is now facing another worry. The flood has cut off road connectivity to the village.
Villagers say that if cabbages worth lakhs grown in their fields rot without being sold due to lack of road network, then the question of livelihood will arise for them.
Skip to Most Read Skip to content
most read
finished
40-year-old Phurpu Wangmo Tamang, a resident of Gatlang, reached her farm on Saturday, days after the devastating floods. As soon as he reached, he started cleaning the field.
"The cabbages will be ready in the next 15-20 days, but the road has not been built yet. I am afraid everything will rot," Phurpu told BBC News Nepali.
"If the road is not built by then, the crop will be ruined. Farmers who buy food for themselves by selling cabbage will be in trouble. If cabbage is not sold, there will be a food shortage in this area."
She says that farmers sell cabbage to buy rice, salt and oil and then educate their children.
"What will they eat, how will they educate their children? I am very worried," he said.
Phurpu says, "Last year we sold cabbage worth Rs 2 lakh. This year we have planted more cabbage than last year."
skip ahead podcast
Dinbhar: Same voice, new style
Big news from the country and the world that made headlines.
episode
finished
Phurpu's husband, Nima Norbu Tamang, works at a local health centre. In his spare time, he helps his wife in farming.
Phurpu and Neema have been growing cabbage for the past five years, but the family has increased production in the last three years.
Neema explains, "Last year the sales were good, so this year other farmers also cultivated more and more cabbage. But this time this disaster has struck. If there is no sale, we will not be able to even feed fodder to the cattle."
Neema tells that the people of Gatlang have been selling cabbage worth more than crores of rupees every year for the last few years.
And this time the farmers of the village have cultivated more cabbage than ever before.
According to Neema, farmers have increased the production of cabbage by abandoning other crops in the hope of getting good income and payment in cash.
But they had no idea that due to the flood the village would be cut off from the rest of the world. The road network of the village has been completely washed away due to the flood.
"Some farmers are worried about losing their relatives, and now they are worried that the crops they planted will rot," Neema said.
'The whole village is worried'
Tenpi Neema Tamang, 31, resident of Gatlang, along with six others including his cousins, has cultivated cabbage on a large area this year.
He said that compared to last year, more cabbage has been produced in the entire village and if it can be sold, there will be good earnings this year.
Tenpi expresses hope, "This season, the entire village has cultivated cabbage worth eight to nine crore rupees. If we get a good price, we will earn around three crore rupees."
But Tenpi is worried because of the road.
He said, "The main concern is the road. After the Pasang Lhamu Highway is damaged, how will our people travel to Kathmandu, Pokhara, Hetauda, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Butwal and other places?"
And if the product doesn't sell, they become even more worried and start thinking about future problems.
He further said, "By selling cabbage, we buy rice, pay the school fees of our children and get them treated. What will we do if we do not get that money? The entire village is very worried."
Chandika Tamang, vice president of Amachodingmo Rural Municipality, also says that she is also concerned about the problems of the villagers.
He told BBC News Nepali, "If the road is not built, farmers' crops will be ruined, causing losses worth crores of rupees."
He said that the road connecting Syafrubesi of Rasuwa to Sano Bharkhu has completely disappeared.
Chandika, vice president of the municipality, says, "If we build the bailey bridge immediately, we will not have to bear that loss. Otherwise, we will have to suffer huge losses."
According to Chandika, not only in Gatlang, but farmers in other wards of Amachodingmo Rural Municipality are also cultivating cabbage in large areas.
She said, "I can't tell the exact area, but there has been a lot of cabbage cultivation this season."
Officials have said that the severe floods along the Nepal-China border have caused extensive damage to roads, communication systems and electricity infrastructure.
Experts say that given the level of damage caused in districts ranging from Rasuwa to Nuwakot and Dhading, Nepal may take a long time to rebuild.
Download the new BBC World Service app
Choose BBC News Hindi and get news alerts, live TV, podcasts... all in one place
