The earthquake-hit family of Gajendra Panthi at Jhadewa-9 in the district has been staying at a health post building for the past four months.

Panthi said they started living there after their house developed several cracks and became unsafe due to the quake. He also complained that he was returned empty-handed when he visited the VDC office several times for government aid to demolish his quake-damaged house.

Ramesh Neupane of Bahundanda in Ringneraha-3 also said that VDC Secretary Tankanath Acharya refused to provide him the relief amount. “I could not receive any aid though my house has been completely damaged,” he said, adding that some people whose houses were partially damaged have already collected relief amount.

Likewise, quake-affected Yam Bahadur BK of Yamgha-1 said his family has been living under a tent after the earthquake. “But I have not been able to visit the VDC secretary yet,” he said.

Authorities estimate that around 1, 500 quake-hit households in the district are yet to receive government relief mainly due to the absence of VDC secretaries and improper data collection following the disaster.

According to the District Administration Office (DAO), only 636 of the total 2, 163 families whose houses were completely damaged have collected the immediate relief amount of Rs 1,500.

DAO Accountant Dipak Pokhrel said VDC officials at Darlamdanda, Yamgha, Chhahara, Juthapauwa, Phek, Chirtungdhara, Masyam, Galdha and Humin have not provided data on people who have already received the relief amount.

Officials say the mismanagement is also caused due to the negligence of security personnel, technicians and VDC secretaries regarding data collection on quake destruction.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Premlal Lamichhane said the problem is also caused due to carelessness while distributing identity cards to quake-hit people. The District Disaster Management Committee had allocated Rs 20.65 million for families whose houses destroyed due to the disaster.