Some elderly people who were injured during the April 25 earthquake are lift in the lurch in northern Dhading village due to the absence of family members to look after them.

Locals said most of those who were injured during the quake are senior citizens and those who are young have also left the area following the disaster.

Forty-eight-year-old Kanya Ghale and Subba Ghale of Tipling-8 said their daily life has really difficult now as they had to undergo surgeries due to the injuries. They said they are bedridden for the past one week and have no one to look after them.

Udam Ghale of Tipling is also facing similar hardships. He said he sent his son to the district headquarters to receive tarpaulins and he is unable to do anything at home. He was earlier taken to Chitwan for treatment.

Four of the injured who had to undergo major surgeries, meanwhile, are still unable to return home from the district headquarters. In Tipling, however, even the local health post has been closed due to the absence of heath workers. Gangjam Tamang, 84, of Jharlang-4 and her son Gopal said they are living in the district headquarters even after they completed treatment in Chitwan and returned to the district hospital. “Doctors have advised to remove rods from my limb after six months,” Gopal said.

Meanwhile, 28 quake-displaced families said they are finding it too difficult to live in temporary camps due to leeches. Udam said the leeches have affected the elderly and children the most.

Authorities said around 1, 200 people were injured in the district due to the earthquake. Of those where were injured in five northern VDCs, 358 were rescued and ferried to district headquarters, Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara in helicopters.