One of the engineers said they approached the SAF seeking funds to build houses for the quake-hit families. The engineers-Saroj Bhattarai, Bibek Jabegu, Saroj Rajak, Deepak Singh Ayer, Narendra Ghale and Sarju Shrestha—said all of the affected families were taking shelter under the tents after the April 25 earthquake.

Each shelter built by the engineers has a floor area of 140 square feet and a height of 7 feet while cement fibre has been used for roof. Each temporary house, built at the cost of around Rs 13,000, is expected last for two to three years, according to the engineers and the SAF representatives.

The houses were built from May 19 to June 12. SAF representatives said they distributed relief materials and are also planning to manage safe drinking water for the affected families.

UML cadres help survivors

CPN-UML leaders and cadres have built 55 houses for people who lost their homes to the Great Earthquake in the district.

Around 200 volunteers, including UML lawmaker Kalpana Chapagain, district Vice-chairman Bhakta Kunwar and Secretary Padampani Sharma, had begun the project a month back. “We have targeted people who are disabled and have no family members to look after them,” UML Politburo Member Ganesh Timilsina said.

The earthquake destroyed around 3,200 houses in the district. “We found a lot of helpless families in Ranipani, Barrachaur, Tilahar and Deupur VDCs,” Chapagain said. Volunteer Arjun Nirjan Poudel said they will continue supporting the quake-affected even after their campaign.

The party stated the new houses were built by using zinc sheets received from various organisations. The party’s district Chairman Padam Giri said they also distributed around 350 bundles of zinc sheets to the quake survivors.