BAJURA, JANUARY 30
The January 24 earthquake has left residents of Gaumul Rural Municipality in the lurch, many of whom have been displaced. According to rural municipality Chairperson Hari Bahadur Rokaya, all settlements are at risk and most houses have been rendered uninhabitable.
Of the 1,650 hoses in the rural municipality, 570 houses are at risk. While some houses have suffered cave-ins, most of them have developed cracks. All 570 families whose houses are at risk have been displaced, the rural municipality informed. "Though houses look fine from outside, they are not safe due to gaping cracks," said local Ganga Rokaya.
Mostly affected by the quake is Ward No 2. Jadegaun, Aagar, Dahakot, Gatadi, Gumfa Kada, Jureli, and Raneda settlements have borne the brunt. The displaced families are living under tarpaulin and plastic tunnels.
"Eighteen families in Gadegaun, 25 in Aagar, 33 in Dahakot, six in Gatadi, 18 in Gumfakada, 25 in Jureli and 40 in Raneda have been displaced and are living in tarps and tunnels," said Ward No 2 Chairperson Dev Bahadur Rokaya.
Local Bhakta Rokaya said some displaced families are living together under the same tarpaulin.
"Three years ago, when the flood swept away our land, we feared for our lives and were displaced for days.
This time we've lost our houses and don't know where we will live," said Rokaya, who also lost one family member to the quake. Jamuna Rokaya had died after a falling boulder crushed her while collecting fodder on a cliff.
Meanwhile, the plight of having to live in the open in the cold has affected the elderly, children and pregnant women the most. Some of the victims accused the government of not doing enough to help them.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 31, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
