A majority of houses destroyed by the Great Earthquake of 2015 have not been reconstructed yet in Pangchet, Ramechhap.

Quake survivors say reconstruction works could not take off due to lack of construction materials and workers.

“Most of the youths have left their villages, leaving behind only elderly people,” said Tika Shrestha, a resident of Pangchet in Doramba-7.

According to the local administration data, around 60 percent of the quake victims have already laid the foundation of their houses. They are hopeful of receiving the second tranche of the government aid to build homes.

“There are no construction materials nor are there skilled masons and carpenters available in the village. We hope the government extends the current deadline of mid-July 2018 to construct the houses,” said Shrestha.

The National Reconstruction Authority  has asked the quake victims to collect the third instalment of the housing aid and complete the construction by mid-July.

Another local Maila Shrestha said the majority of  the quake-affected families in the village were forced to stop the constructions having barely finished laying

foundation to their houses due to lack of construction materials.

“There is no way that people can complete the reconstruction works within the deadline set by the government,” said Naina Singh Khatri of Jajarkot, who reached Pangchet to work as a mason.