Nearly three years after earthquake, victims still mark Dasain in huts

Nearly three years after the earthquake, families affected in Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan will have to celebrate this year's Dasain in temporary huts as well, as private housing reconstruction has yet to gain momentum.

Although local levels have moved ahead with processes to identify beneficiaries, sign grant agreements and request the first instalment, building permanent homes remains a challenge for most families.

The earthquake, centred on Ramidanda in Barekot Rural Municipality-1 of Jajarkot, struck on the night of Kartik 17, 2080 BS, and caused damage across 17 local levels in three districts.

While some work has begun in Jajarkot, reconstruction has not yet started in the other two districts. In Bheri Municipality, 318 beneficiaries have been identified, of whom 52 households have requested the first instalment.