The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has started distributing the first tranche of the housing reconstruction aid to the earthquake-affected families in Tanahun district.   

The earthquake of April 25, 2015 had destroyed 25,090 homes in the district. 

Chief District Officer Phanindramani Nepal handed over the first instalment of the aid (Rs 50,000) to the quake displaced families of Tanahunsur-9 at a public function held in Ghansikuwa on Monday.

Deputy General Director of the Central Bureau of Statistics Rudra Suwal said the NRA had started distributing the housing aid in Tanahun based on the electronic data collected by engineers. 

The NRA had deployed 68 engineers to survey damage caused by the quake and collect data of the victims. 

Engineer Bimal Bhattarai said the quake-affected families included on the aid list can receive the sum after singing agreement with the NRA at the office of the District Coordination Committee. 

The earthquake survivors in Tanahun had only received emergency relief supplies after the earthquake.

Local Development Officer Badri Prasad Tiwari said there was a delay in issuing the housing aid in the district as the survey could not be conducted on time to figure out and identify genuine earthquake victims.

He added that the earthquake-affected families can now start building their homes with the help and supervision of the officials at the District Technical Office and their local units. 

District Forest Officer Ambika Paudel said the office was going to provide subsidised wood for reconstruction works.