Bajura, February 1

Pregnant women and new mothers of Gaumul Rural Municipality have been left in the lurch after the earthquake in Bajura.

Pregnant women and new mothers have been facing many problems after their houses received cracks, while some houses even collapsed due to the tremor. The rural municipality Vice-chair Sita Rokaya said people had been facing the bone-biting cold in the tents. Kala Rokaya, 28, of Jureligaun had given birth to a baby on January 25. She was compelled to stay under a tent as her house collapsed in the quake. Similarly, four new mothers along with their babies have been staying under the tents as they have no option.

Kala Rokaya, 28, Rekha Rokaya, 22, Pramila Dhami, 25, and Sumitra Bohora, 25, of the village have been staying in a tent putting their lives at risk.

The elderly, pregnant women, new mothers and children have been badly affected due to the cold. Earthquake victims have yet to get any relief materials.

They said that they have been facing problems of shelter and daily meals.

Dhan Lal Rokaya, a local, said the government had paid no attention even though the quake victims are in a lurch. Of the 1,650 families, the houses of 570 are at a high risk. They were displaced and compelled to live under the tents.

Another local Ganga Rokaya said earthquake victims were sheltering in public places.

Meanwhile, rural municipality Chairman Hari Bahadur Rokaya said that the rural municipality had helped the victims with tents and blankets only. He added that the victims had to be shifted to a safe place.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 2, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.