MUMBAI, Sept 18: While the Malpa landslide tragedy may have disappeared from the front pages of newspapers, there is one family in the city that still sways between faith and frustration. While there has been no news about their daughter, who was part of the unfortunate twelfth batch, hope is intact aided by ``several Reiki masters'' who claim that their daughter is still alive.The government's proclamation that Parul Shah is missing and dead has not deterred the Shahs. The parents of the ebullient 25-year-old returned home this morning after spending two frustrating weeks in the hilly terrain trying to locate their daughter. ``We have made sustained efforts to get things moving for a month now (for the first two weeks Parul's uncle had been at the site) and though our search has come to a naught, we shall keep trying,'' says Viren Shah, Parul's father. Their faith is reinforced by calls from Reiki masters who claim to have made ``contact'' with Parul.``It sounds eerie but when a complete stranger tellsthings about my daughter which even I don't know, it all sounds credible. An almost blind person from Ahmedabad told me of the slight dimple on Parul's chin when she smiles.I was astounded,'' relates Shah showing no signs of tiredness despite the difficult journey from Dharchula.The couple even met the UP chief Minister Kalyan Singh on September 8 albeit for as little as 20 seconds. The meeting ended as soon as it began with a quick ``yes, I will send search teams from house to house.'' Two professional teams and a few members of a voluntary organisation were sent from Almoda to a few villages around Malpa. But with movement restricted beyond a certain point from the base camp at Dharchula, the attempts did not bear fruit. ``Even though the locals were willing to help, what was needed was an organised effort. It's a difficult area.we need government's help,'' says Shah.Though the landslide toll has been put at 300, which includes some local villagers and porters, only 14 bodies have been recovered.``The search operations have been left incomplete as the government assumed everyone missing to be dead,'' Shah says. What is more agonising is the fact that three bodies were spotted by the villagers a few day back when they resurfaced following heavy rains. And although this was confirmed by the District magistrates office, no attempt were being made to recover the bodies.During their stay at Dharchula, the Shahs heard fantastic tales of spirits and seances. One particular tale of a missing person returning after a month has bolstered their confidence. ``There are two theories: probability and possibility. While there is little hope in the first, the possibilities are unending. That's what gives us hope,'' Shah adds. Besides, Reiki experts have been guiding them on ``the path in which Parul is heading.''However, Shahs are not the only relatives of those missing in the tragedy who believe their near and dear ones would come back. ``There are over 20 families who believe in the supernaturalphenomenon." Based on various means of ``making contact'' they are hoping against hope. Shah's themselves are in touch with a few families in Mumbai, Calcutta, Guwahati and Pune. ``Unless we see and identify Parul's body, we will not believe that she is no more,'' asserts Shah. Parul's younger sister Toral speaks fondly of her sister as ``a total health freak'' who would ``exercise daily and go swimming on alternate days.'' Both sisters are avid trekkers, but Parul was the one who undertook most trips. ``She would go every two months for a trek, taking a break from her work at an ad agency,'' she says as she hopes that this time her sister is only on an extended holiday.
