Baby a welcome relief
The blessing of a newborn baby has come as a welcome relief for a family grieving their missing father.
Gauri Khadka and Gopal Poudyel welcomed their baby girl to their family six months after Poudyel’s father went missing, leaving a gaping hole in their home.
Bir Bahadur Poudel, 69, went missing after leaving his house at 8.30am on October 23, 2020, and hasn’t been seen since.
Police and the public have combed Palmerston North and Feilding looking for the Bhutanese man who was thought to have taken a bus to Feilding the day of his disappearance.
Poudyel has not given up hope and has been praying for his safe return, but the arrival of his daughter has been a welcome distraction from the constant worry the family has felt since October.
At his home on Saturday the family held Nwaran, a Hindu name giving ceremony, for his 11-day-old daughter named Prava.
It would have been perfect if his father had been there, Poudyel said. ‘‘We miss our dad.
When she was born it gave us happiness, but we feel quite sad because if my dad was here maybe he would be as happy as we are now.
‘‘It’s almost been six months and we haven’t heard anything, but we’re praying and waiting for good news.’’
Poudel’s wife, Dirga Poudel, was relieved when Prava arrived, Poudyel said. ‘‘My mum is now very busy with our daughter, it’s very good for us because that breaks things.
‘‘Now after her birth everything is turning another way because everyone is concentrating on her now, it’s giving relief for the family.
‘‘She is very precious to the family, she is like a diamond.’’
Poudyel said he missed his father more now Prava was born because he loved to be with his children. Poudel was close to Poudyel’s sons, Pravash, 7, and Prayash, 8, spending lots of time with them, taking them to and from Milson School every day.
Poudel did not have warm clothes with him the day he went missing, and was wearing a black turtleneck, light grey pants and a red, white and blue beanie when he left home.
Anyone who had information was urged to contact police on 105 quoting file number 201024/3032.