CHAUTARA: The earthquake survivors taking refuge in temporary resettlement camps at Banskharka and Kharigaun of Solang VDC-1 of Sindhupalchok district are currently left in anguish due to excessive cold and winter storm.

A hailstorm battered the village for at least 20 minutes on Monday night, and worsened the condition of those displaced by the earthquake.

The wrath of nature did not show any indication of a letup as strong winds blew away and tore their shelter's roof, which is but tarpaulin sheets. The rain seeping from the leaky sheets has caused further misery -- especially to the children, pregnant women and elderly.

The upper region was blanked thick with snow while hailstones piled up in the lower settlement areas. The villagers were forced to warm themselves around bonfires, said a local Netra Bahadur Thapa. The massive earthquake, which struck Nepal on April 25, has destabilised land of Solang, Batase, Pangtang, Gumba and Golche VDCs, and rendered a total of 190 families homeless. The survivors recently received some warm clothes but the bigger families are finding it hard to share what they they have received. The survivors are living under tarpaulin sheets’ roof and do not even have corrugated zinc sheets which could have helped in lessening the cold. The temporary shelters house numerous expecting mothers. Thapa further said the survivors did not even have enough food as the food received in relief packages have run out. A fire that broke out at Sun Bahadur Gole’s tent two days ago destroyed goods worth around Rs 300,000.

The fire also burned down rice, blankets and mattress provided by various donors, according to Thapa.