Dharmapur, which was under Bhadrakali VDC until last year, comes under ward number 7 of the Budhanilkantha Municipality now. A locality consisting of 31 houses, it was severely hit by the earthquake last week leading to the death of five locals and the destruction of 29 houses. Three children sustained injuries and three people have been rescued from the rubble in the past few days.

Although Dharmapur is only about 25 minutes away from the main road that connects Ring Road to Budhhanilkantha Temple, most of the people of the locality, numbering around 200, are living in makeshift tents that they have themselves arranged for and set up in the area.

A local, Sunil Maharjan, says that the police did arrive after the first hit, but didn’t provide any help. Now, the locals, along with a few volunteers, have been working hard to get things back in order. A lot of work still needs to be done, since all that is left are piles of bricks, wood, dust and belongings.

A majority of houses in the area were made using mud and brick, following the old Newari-style architecture. The area is believed to have been inhabited since the time of the Licchhavis and, according to the locals, houses some of the oldest inscriptions in Nepal. A local says that most of the houses that were destroyed last Saturday had been there since even before the 1934 quake. Despite having a great historical significance, the area has gone unnoticed on the aftermath of the earthquake. With a large number of buildings destroyed, the locals now fear that if the government does not take proper steps to document and protect the historical treasures in the area and reconstruct the damaged buildings, this ancient settlement might lose its significance forever.