After failing to get any support from the government even 11 months after the devastating earthquake, villagers who were rendered homeless in the disaster have started building houses on their own for the fear that they might have to spend yet another monsoon under the flimsy structures. 

According to records at the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC), as many as 65,000 households of Gorkha, the epicentre of the April 25 earthquake, were affected in the disaster.

Gorkha Chief District Officer (CDO) Narayan Bhatta said locals have already reconstructed around 30 percent of houses in Barpak, one of the villages worst hit by the quake. The quake survivors are extremely concerned that they might have to endure one more monsoon in the temporary shelters where they have been living since the quake,” said CDO Bhatta. 

Quake survivor Sabina Dhital of Chhoprak-6, whose house was completely destroyed in the quake, said delay in reconstruction work has led villagers to build houses on their own. Dhital has also constructed a new house. “We took loan to build a house as the concerned authorities have failed to provide any support even 11 months after the disaster,” said Dhital. But the house built in traditional way is also a cause of concern for her. “We built the house to save us from monsoon rains. It is not earthquake-resistant,” said Dhital.

Anju Pokharel, another quake victim, of Manakamana, said she also borrowed money to construct a new house fearing monsoon rains. “We faced hardships during monsoon last year,” said Pokharel, adding: “That’s why we took loan to build the house.”  The government has announced that it will provide Rs 200,000 each to those whose houses were destroyed by the quake. 

But Kajibabu Ghimire of Chhoprak is concerned whether the government-announced aid will be enough to build a new house. “I don’t think Rs 200, 000 government aid will be sufficient to construct a new house,”said Ghimire.