Earthquake-affected people in Pachok VDC, Lamjung, have been unable to store their harvested crops due to the lack of space.

The April 25 quake had destroyed several houses and sheds in the village. Nabaraj Gurung of Chailung said they stored maize inside the damaged house in July.

“Our house can collapse at any time,” he said, adding that they have been living under tents. He also expressed worries that the recent landslip is likely to displace his family from

the area.

Sankha Gurung in the village said his family is also living under tarpaulins. “I have kept maize in front of my destroyed house,” he said. Some of the stored maize has already damaged due to the continuous rains, he said.

In the past, the villagers used to dry maize before storing it but this year they could not do so. “This is why the maize is rotting,” a local resident said. There are 62 households in Chailung.

Khushi Gurung, another local, said almost all houses in the area have been destroyed due to the earthquake. The displaced families are living in temporary shelters.

“All of the villagers

have been displaced,” Khushi said, adding that the quake-hit families are likely to face food shortage this year. “If we cannot protect the maize, we will die of hunger,” she said.