Left out of the government’s priority list of relief distribution, many earthquake survivors in the district have been deprived of Rs15,000 meant to buy galvanised zinc sheets to build temporary huts.

A majority of the quake victims of Dovane and Khatamma VDCs in the district have already demolished the quake-ravaged houses in a hope of receiving state aid, only to be given the cold shoulder from the authorities.

Khagendra Kulung, a quake victim in Khatamma, said villagers have been facing hardships after the quake destroyed their houses. “We cannot build our houses due to lack of money,” he said.

The villagers said that they have also been deprived of Rs10,000 which the government distributed to the quake victims to buy warm clothes during winter.

“We have to stay in the huts also in monsoon as we are not on the priority list,” says Kulung.

According to the District Administration Office (DAO), 3,754 houses were destroyed and 1, 074 others partially damaged by the devastating earthquake on April 25, 2015.

The DAO, however, informed that they have already distributed Rs 5,000 each household whose house was destroyed by the quake and Rs 3,000 each to those with partially damaged house. According to the DAO, the government has distributed Rs65 million to the quake victims so far.