National
Earthquake victims affected
The sudden drop in temperatures caused by rainfall has affected the earthquake-displaced people living under inside poorly-insulated huts and tents. Elderly persons, post-partum mothers and children have been hard hit.The sudden drop in temperatures caused by rainfall has affected the earthquake-displaced people living under inside poorly-insulated huts and tents. Elderly persons, post-partum mothers and children have been hard hit.
Six months after the devastating earthquake of April 25, thousands of families displaced by the disaster are still living in temporary shelters in the districts like Gorkha, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading and Dolakha.
They were already living under harsh conditions, and the rainfall since Wednesday night has made their situation worse.
70-year-old Maru Tamang, an earthquake displaced from Nuwakot said she was already suffering from backache because of cold. With the rainfall the weather has become chillier, and she fears her condition could get worse.
“The government must do something to address our plight. We cannot live in this condition once the winter sets in,” Maru said.
Another quake victim, 72-year-old Khejumaya Tamang, suffers from chronic asthma. She said she barely sleeps these days. “It gets cold at night, even inside the hut, “ said Khejumaya.
Snowfall in the upper northern region of Dhading has caused hardship for the quake-displaced people.
Prem Tamang of Ree VDC in the district said the weather in the region became severely cold overnight, affecting the earthquake victims from Ree, Lapa and Tipling VDCs.
“Because of extreme cold, the people could not get outside to collect firewood and fetch water,” said Prem.
After the rainfall, vehicular movement has also been disrupted in different parts of northern Dhading.
The earthquake victims in Gorkha district have also been affected by rain and snowfall.
Many families living in temporary huts, including Smagaun, Prok, Lho, Barpak, Laprak and Kerauja villages, have complained of lack of warm shelter and leaky roof.
Rains and cold have also affected the quake victims in Rasuwa, Lamjung, Kavre and Sindhupalchok.