BAJURA, JANUARY 21

The Baddimalika Foundation, in collaboration with Nepal Rising, provided relief to 128 earthquake-affected families in Sanebheri Rural Municipality-4, Rukum West, on Saturday.

The first phase of relief distribution also included immediate assistance for house construction materials to 45 families. Moreover, special attention was given to pregnant and lactating women, who were provided with essential items, including eggs, according to the Prakash Bahadur Singh, President of the foundation.

The relief aid, covering a month's worth of groceries, aimed to alleviate the hardships faced by the affected families, Singh added. Singh emphasized that while the first phase supported a limited number of families, the foundation is committed to expanding its assistance to additional households in subsequent phases.

Earlier initiatives by the foundation included the distribution of relief materials, such as food and blankets, in Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality, Budiganga Municipality, and Baddimalika Municipality of Bajura, in collaboration with Nepal Rising, according to Laxmiraj Paudel,secretary at the foundation.

The current relief distribution included essential items like rice, lentils, oil, salt, and blankets, Paudel said while highlighting that the distribution process was closely coordinated with local authorities to ensure the effective delivery of relief aid.

The earthquake, with its epicenter in Ramidanda, Jajarkot, with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale, resulted in 157 casualties in Jajarkot and Rukum West.

The quake caused substantial damage to physical infrastructure, affecting thousands of homes and structures in the region. As many as 2,136 houses in Rukum West were severely damaged, while 2,642 houses were partially damaged, and 4,670 houses experiencing minor damage.

The aftermath of the quake has left the market and rural areas of Jajarkot and Rukum West in a state of desolation.