Valley
Temporary
After the 2015 earthquakes devastated the buildings of Metropolitan Police Range and Metropolitan Crime Division atHanumandhoka,After the 2015 earthquakes devastated the buildings of Metropolitan Police Range and Metropolitan Crime Division atHanumandhoka, the police personnel took shelter at the premises of National Trading Limited building and a party venue at Teku, alongside makeshift tents across the city. It was a temporary arrangement that would end once the rebuilding process concluded.
Two years on, over a hundred policemen are still stationed at the tent city in Teku from where they carry out their duties.
Part and parcel of a temporary shelter is the lack of basic amenities and comfort. During summer, the tents can feel like an oven, and the dependency on natural ventilation invites swarms of mosquitoes. During winter, the personnel have to layer up in at least a couple of blankets in order to insulate themselves from the cold. Monsoons are the trickiest, with the ceilings leaking and water pooling up on the floors.
These servicemen and women haven’t had a proper roof over their heads, well-equipped toilets and bathrooms, or cosy beds since 2015. Yet they carry on with their duties without complaining, serving the nation and public without making comfort a priority.
I recently visited the makeshift police camp in Teku and spent the day with the personnel. Here are the glimpses from the day.
Photos & Text: Anish Regmi
Office time.
Ventilation.
Morning commute.
Lunch.
Recreation.
Barber’s.
Dishes.
Winding down.
Laundry.
Siesta.
Grooming.