Earthquake survivor Gorimaya Kusu of Bhimeshowr-1 in the district was surprised when engineers came to her shelter to collect details on quake destructions in the area.

After being photographed by an engineer in front of her quake-ravaged house, the 50-year-old widow who now lives in a small hut said she hopes to build a new house. She, however, said she has no idea whether or not the government will helps quake survivors.

“I will build the foundation of a house after the government provides some money,” she said. Most people in the area who survive on daily wages have been facing difficulties living in temporary shelters. They have been awaiting government help to construct permanent houses.

Local authorities said a total of 254 people, including 127 engineers and 127 volunteers, have been mobilised to collect electronic data from villages across the district. Each of the engineers will collect data of around 400 households. They are now visiting every earthquake-hit village and recording details of destructions caused by the April 25 earthquake. They collect data interviewing quake survivors and photograph damaged structures. Authorities said the collected data will be sent to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

Around 85,000 families have received quake victim identity cards in the district despite estimation that only around 60, 000 households would receive them.

The government initiative to collect electronic data, however, has left fake quake victims worried.

CBS Director Dhundiraj Lamichhane said that no quake-affected family will be missed or repeated during data collection. “After collecting details, the CBI will provide collected data to the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, data collection in Gaurishankar and Lamabagar VDCs has been halted due to recent snowfall.