I loved writing this one

Smile is back on Angmo’s face
Jupinderjit Singh/TNS


Dalden Angmo with her mother Tsering Dolma. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari


Chandigarh, August 4
From crying in pain on a hospital bed to clutching her mother in fear, three-and-a-half-year-old Dalden Angmo, who is known as the “Face of Leh cloudburst disaster”, has now come a long way to laughingly peddle a brand new bicycle at her home on the premises of the Chandimandir Command.

Providence helped her wade through rocks, bodies and houses floating in the flashfloods caused by the August 5-6 cloudburst at Leh. Having recovered well now, she successfully negotiates chairs, table and visitors driving the bicycle. She kind of makes a statement that she is ready to take on life having already won the greatest battle for survival she would encounter.

The tragedy took away her house and toys, but it gave her a blessing in disguise. It is to feel at home before a camera. As we stepped into her house, she remained quite, withdrawn and shy clutching to her mother till the camera was out. And it was then her show as she smiled, posed and laughed and stared in a reflective mood. She insisted on seeing each picture and her approval depended if she smiled or remained indifferent.

In perfect health and shape, Dalden Angmo may understand in many years what she went through and the importance of her survival against all odds. But her parents live through a trauma still.

“Her mother has grown very thin. Even a year after the incident, she is yet to recover both mentally and physically. She rarely feels like eating,” says Tsering Dorjey, brother of XX Dolma. Dolma’s husband, also named Tsering Dorjey, said Angmo used to get scared after hearing the sound of clouds, rain or winds. However, she was now perfectly fine. “But her mother still gets panic,” he said.

Dolma said those bad moments haunt her again and again. “I have consulted many doctors, but my fears are not going away and keep on haunting me,” she adds.

But she is happy at the way Angmo is growing up. “Thanks to the media, especially The Tribune. She is known everywhere
now.” Dolma said.

She said apart from psychological scars, she was always tensed at the future of her daughter’s education and that would they be able to rebuild a house. “The Indian Army has done so much for us. But unfortunately, the Leh administration is yet to approve our application for a house in Solar Colony, where the cloudburst-hit families have been given accommodation. “Whenever we ask, the only answer the administration gives is that our file is under process,” she said. She rued that they even did not have enough money for their daughter’s education.

Dorjey said after his transfer, he decided to move to Chandigarh along with his family so that they could get good accommodation here and his wife and daughter could recover well.

First published in The Tribune : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110805/j&k.htm#2

my first Chanidgarh bateline by the way....