After braving a harsh winter in flimsy shelters, earthquake survivors in Gorkha district are bracing for the summer with Spring arriving and thundershowers expected months before monsoon.

As the reconstruction works have been delayed, people have started repairing their temporary huts constructed nine months ago for the rainy season.

Ishwor Bahadur Baniya of Gorkha Municipality-14, one of those who survived the devastating earthquakes in April and May last year, said the government’s preparations for reconstruction were nowhere to be seen. “Monsoon is getting near. We are going to have a well-built temporary hut for the rains,” said Baniya, adding that the villagers had been using wood and galvanised zinc sheets salvaged from the quake-ravaged houses to repair their huts.

“We can no longer rely on the government for reconstruction. The quake victims of Gorkha Municipality and Palungtar VDC have not received the Rs10,000 cash aid for buying warm clothes for winter till date,” added Baniya.

Another victim, Chhalumaya Pariyar of Gorkha-12 shared a similar plight. “Life has been hard in a hut for nine months. We have taken a loan to construct a new house,” she said.

Dil Kumari Gurung of Swara said her family has started repairing the quake-damaged house in view of the oncoming monsoon. “Engineers visited our village recently. But we don’t know when the government will provide us money for reconstruction,” said Dil Kumari.

Since the tarpaulins started wearing out, many villagers have repaired their huts with old galvanised zinc sheets. Tilu Ghale of Barpak said they were not impressed by the 17 quake-resistant house models prepared by the government. “We don’t have the human resource and tools required to construct such houses,” said Tilu, adding that the buildings’ originality would be lost if they followed the government models.

Quake survivors in upper settlements also demanded that the government

prepare separate house models for the quake-ravaged Himalayan region.