Away at school, kids unaware of loss of families in landslide in Raigad | India News

Vasant has been studying at the ashramshala for the past four years and used to come to Irshalwadi during the summer vacation.
His parents are still missing. Officials said a body retrieved from the debris earlier Saturday was initially said to be of his father, Madhu Pirkad, but later turned out to be of another villager, who shared the same name.

Like Vasant, Radhika and Monica were also at school in Matheran, while their youngest sibling Madhuri was at a relative’s place in Karjat. On Saturday, the two older girls asked where their parents were as the youngest was asleep peacefully at the relief camp.
Their parents had visited the school in June. “They spent an hour with us at school. We do not know where they are right now,” said Radhika. Her younger sister Monica said: “Some people from our wadi (hamlet) are here right now, but no one from our home is around.”
No one present at the spot had the courage to tell the girls about the tragedy. The missing family members of the sisters include their parents, grandparents, two paternal uncles and an aunt.
An official from the tribal department, Pradip Solaskar, said the revenue department was compiling the names of those orphaned, survivors and their relatives. “We will ensure those orphaned receive aid and care,” he said.