However, with most government buildings damaged by the quake, the government offices here have been providing crucial services to the service seekers from the tents built on its premises.

Even the officials at the District Administration Office (DAO) have been providing services from the tents built outside the damaged building.

With cracks all over, the top floor of the DAO is on the verge of collapse.

“People have started coming in to make citizenship certificates and passports. Therefore, we have resumed our services working from some rooms that have not been damaged by the earthquake and by putting up few tents outside,” said Chief District Officer (CDO) Dipendra Poudel.

CDO Poudel said they are thinking about renting a building to establish a temporary office to provide their services. Poudel said the DAO, District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) and various security agencies are holding a discussion at the District Police Office (DPO) about it.

While the quake has completely damaged the building of District Education Office (DEO), its staff has been trying to assess the damage caused to the education sector while working from the tents. Meanwhile, the DEO has provided tents to the schools completely damaged by the quake so as to begin classes as soon possible. Meanwhile, staffers at the Gorkha Municipal Office have also been working from tents as service seekers who have lost their family members as well as all their property to the quake have started queuing up for recommendation letters.

 Similarly, Tirtha Kumar Shrestha, who heads the District Agriculture Office that has also sustained damages, said that they have requested the DDMC for tents to carry out day-to-day work and provide services.

Meanwhile, people have started coming in to the district offices of Nepal Electricity Authority to pay their electricity bill. Meanwhile, as most staffers have been deployed for damage assessment, the government offices have started feeling the lack of manpower with the gradual increase in the flow of service seekers.     

Officials visit earthquake affected areas

Prakash Adhikari (Nuwakot)

The officials of District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) in Nuwakot have started visiting quake-affected areas in the district to learn about problems people are facing in the wake of the devastating earthquake.

After providing preliminary relief to the victims, DDMC officials have started going door-to-door to listen to the difficulties of the people in the quake-hit areas in order to get a true picture of the death, devastation and displacement caused by the April 25 earthquake.

Chief District Officer, Nepal Police, Nepal Army personnel including various government officers are currently collecting information regarding the number of deaths in the quake affected areas as well as the number of collapsed building and people displaced. DSP Arun Paudel said they have started to visit the quake-hit areas on a daily basis to inspect as well as to understand the situation of quake victims. Similarly, CDO Kosh Hari Niraula said the door-to-door campaign will be extended to all the quake-hit areas of the district.