BAJURA, JUNE 2

Six siblings including a mere one-month-old baby are left in dire straits after their mother, 32-year-old Ashmita Devi Damai of Chatara in Triveni Municipality-1, Bajura, passed away just 21 days after giving birth. Asmita, who was battling postpartum hemorrhage, died while undergoing treatment at Seti Provincial Hospital.

The untimely demise of their mother has left the one-month-old infant defenseless. Their father Manraj Damai who is also in poor health is now struggling to procure milk for the newborn in the village due to the lack of financial means. According to Sushila, the eldest daughter at just 12 years of age, they have been relying on the generosity of villagers to sustain their youngest sister and feeding her with the donated milk. However, they are facing a lot of challenges in securing milk as they also need to feed their second youngest sister Shivani, who is mere one and half years old. 'We have been pleading for milk for both sisters and distribute whatever we manage to obtain,' Sushila said with tears in her eyes.

With the passing of Asmita, her six children, Sushila, Sushmita (8) Samiya (7) Sishir (6), Shivani and the infant are left in the lurch. According to the villagers, the family has no house to live and no land to farm. All of them have been living in the house of Chandra Damai, a single woman who is a distant relative.

Furthermore, all the children are malnourished, lack adequate clothing and unable to attend school due to the family's dire financial circumstance.

Asmita gave birth to her daughter on May 3. However, due to postpartum hemorrhage, she was rushed to Byalpata Hospital in Acham after nine days. When the hospital was unable to provide the necessary treatment, she was referred to Seti Provincial Hospital, where she eventually succumbed to her condition as confirmed by Kamala Joshi, Deputy Mayor of Triveni Municipality.