A report of an expert panel formed by the government to assess damage has shown that the quake caused three times more damages than the preliminary estimate.
A report of an expert panel formed by the government to assess damage has shown that the quake caused three times more damages than the preliminary estimate.
According to the report, 959 houses have been rendered uninhabitable in the district and that 30 of them belong to government and non-government organisations. Likewise, 144 of around 9,500 houses in the municipality areas have been completely damaged and 795 are partially damaged.
Meanwhile, locals are said to be pressing the authorities to list them as quake victims so that they can avail of subsidised loans. The District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC), after receiving the panel’s report, has appealed for additional budget for quake victims. According to Chief District Officer Bijay Narayan Manadhar, they plan to provide Rs 2.2 million to the victims as immediate relief if the additional amount is not allocated. Meanwhile, Local Development Officer Ganesh Dahal said the District Development Committee has reduced the proposed relief amount of Rs 2,500 per household to Rs 1,000 as the number of quake victims increased. The Dhankuta municipality, however, has been distributing Rs 3,000 per family.
Likewise, the DDRC stated that the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had sent 400 sacks of rice, two quintals of sugar, a quintal of salt and 1,000 tarpaulins for quake victims in the district.
Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice.
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