KATHMANDU: To get some insight about the rescue efforts, I headed to Sankhu along with a friend. The historical Sankhu Bazar has suffered huge casualties and massive damage and destruction of houses. The bazaar has suffered severe structural damage and casualties are in huge numbers from the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the country on April 25.

As I walked among the ruins of this once busy bazaar, I grieved the loss of such huge proportions. We could see the Nepal Army involved in rescue operations, helping the survivors set up tents. The buildings that withstood the earthquake were now in an inhabitable condition and many people had been compelled to sleep in the open.

Among those who wished that help had arrived sooner are the residents of Sankhu, a community of 10,000 people about 18 km east of the Capital. Locals estimate their community has lost more than 80 per cent of its buildings in the earthquake. As many as 62 people from Sankhu have lost their lives.

Locals complained of not receiving any aid from the government. Although it is located on the outskirts of the Capital, Sankhu residents are still deprived of aid — six days after the destructive earthquake. However, locals said some relief materials had come from social organisations, while some individual groups came around distributing food items, blankets and tents.

A local resident Madan Shrestha said, “Some organisations provided us with some tarpauline sheets and packed food. However, no government agency has come yet to help us. The relief we have received is not enough.”

Around the time we were leaving, the Israeli rescue team with sniffer dogs came to search if there were any survivors in the debris. There were some other international teams helping the victims along with some individual Nepali groups. The locals informed that Sikh Guru Nanak organisation from India has been providing two meals a day to the quake victims.

   Bajrayogini Temple

The very famous Bajrayogini Temple is situated in Sankhu, and has also been affected by the earthquake. The Bajrayogini is 20 km to the north-east of Kathmandu and 2.5 km from Sankhu.

The surrounding area of the temple premises is broken and destroyed. The actual temple has suffered some cracks on its walls and there are some cracks on the inside of the temple as well.

The temple was last renovated during the reign of Pratap Malla.