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Benedict Grey
  • Overview
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  The site of Langtang village, once the heart of the national park, home to the services such as a school, medical centre and bases for army and police posts.   Now buried under rock from the landslide that was triggered by the 7.8 magnitude ea

The site of Langtang village, once the heart of the national park, home to the services such as a school, medical centre and bases for army and police posts. Now buried under rock from the landslide that was triggered by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake of April 2015. Prayer flags are blessings for long life; they litter what is now a grave for hundreds of people.  

  Nyima Gyalmu Tamang in Bhanjyangaon. Since 25 April 2015 she has been living in temporary structures, like many others. They are flimsy tarpaulin, corrugated iron and plastic sheets. She has no income and because as a widow she owns no land an

Nyima Gyalmu Tamang in Bhanjyangaon. Since 25 April 2015 she has been living in temporary structures, like many others. They are flimsy tarpaulin, corrugated iron and plastic sheets. She has no income and because as a widow she owns no land and gets no government support. Her life has been changed forever by the earthquake. 

  Dorje from Okuldhunga comes towards the warmth of a fire after rebuilding the roof of Cheten and Babu Tamang's house during a storm, his jacket steaming. He eats and sleeps in this temporary hut.     Many workers from other regions have come i

Dorje from Okuldhunga comes towards the warmth of a fire after rebuilding the roof of Cheten and Babu Tamang's house during a storm, his jacket steaming. He eats and sleeps in this temporary hut. 

Many workers from other regions have come into Langtang as volunteers to help with the ongoing emergency. A race is on to rebuild before the Autumn tourist season, although this may never come as Kathmandu tourist agencies are claiming that Langtang is too dangerous. 

  On the outskirts of Kyanjim Gumba stands Cheoten Lama. Behind are the Himalayas, the source of the avalanches that struck her village.   Cheoten has a full time job feeding the workers rebuilding and expanding the town.

On the outskirts of Kyanjim Gumba stands Cheoten Lama. Behind are the Himalayas, the source of the avalanches that struck her village. Cheoten has a full time job feeding the workers rebuilding and expanding the town.

  The cost of helicopters out of reach, Nepalese people walk for three days non-stop carrying up to 50 kgs of wood each. These volunteers will be staying with Sherap. 

The cost of helicopters out of reach, Nepalese people walk for three days non-stop carrying up to 50 kgs of wood each. These volunteers will be staying with Sherap. 

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  The repair of Karchung Tamang's house, once a lodge and restaurant, has been forgotten. Delays in reconstruction have been blamed for more than a dozen deaths during the winter, mostly of elderly people. She sits next to her pile of kindl

The repair of Karchung Tamang's house, once a lodge and restaurant, has been forgotten. Delays in reconstruction have been blamed for more than a dozen deaths during the winter, mostly of elderly people. She sits next to her pile of kindling. 

  Everyone in Langtang has lost someone. The people will never forget but they will move forward and attempt to recover.     Now Maya is talking about the future.  Her plan is to go to Europe and work to send money back to her family like m

Everyone in Langtang has lost someone. The people will never forget but they will move forward and attempt to recover. 

Now Maya is talking about the future.  Her plan is to go to Europe and work to send money back to her family like many other Nepalese. This is the largest source of income in Nepal. If tourism does not pick up by this November she will not be able to stay here in Langtang.

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  Tsiring is carrying her son through Khangjim. Children are a rare sight in Langtang these days. They are away in Kathmandu because all the schools in Langtang have been destroyed.

Tsiring is carrying her son through Khangjim. Children are a rare sight in Langtang these days. They are away in Kathmandu because all the schools in Langtang have been destroyed.

  Nyima Lama breaks stones into smaller pieces for the construction of a new path in the damaged village. All day she works to rebuild the town.

Nyima Lama breaks stones into smaller pieces for the construction of a new path in the damaged village. All day she works to rebuild the town.

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  The pace of rebuilding is picking up, with hammers knocking throughout the valley and the paths full of workers carrying cement, wooden beams and rocks.     Lobsang is a carpenter who has travelled from Okuldhunga to volunteer in the project.&

The pace of rebuilding is picking up, with hammers knocking throughout the valley and the paths full of workers carrying cement, wooden beams and rocks. 

Lobsang is a carpenter who has travelled from Okuldhunga to volunteer in the project. Working under temporary structures he plains one of the structural wooden beams of a typical Langtang house.

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  The earthquake still haunts Sherap. Now he is a key figure in the rebuilding as he hosts groups of volunteers transporting heavy building materials up the valley. He cooks them dal bhat (lentil curry) and teaches them 'falas', a gambling card game.

The earthquake still haunts Sherap. Now he is a key figure in the rebuilding as he hosts groups of volunteers transporting heavy building materials up the valley. He cooks them dal bhat (lentil curry) and teaches them 'falas', a gambling card game.

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   Tenzing Gyalbu is a healer. He is also a single father who runs a guest house. Since the earthquake  he has been struggling to make enough money to rebuild his home. 

Tenzing Gyalbu is a healer. He is also a single father who runs a guest house. Since the earthquake  he has been struggling to make enough money to rebuild his home. 

  Khasi is a porter from a small hamlet below Khangjim. Work has been hard for him to find in the last year. Drinking the local rice beer otherwise known as Chhaang is how passes the time. 

Khasi is a porter from a small hamlet below Khangjim. Work has been hard for him to find in the last year. Drinking the local rice beer otherwise known as Chhaang is how passes the time. 

Rebuilding in Langtang - a photo story for the Guardian
FOR THE WEATHER CHANNEL (US)
Langtang Rebuilding extended photo story
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