Pokhara, April 3

Nearly two years after the Gorkha earthquake of 2015, the victims of Lumle, Annapurna Rural Municipality in Kaski district received their first instalment of the housing grant today.

The earthquake had damaged more than 50 houses in Lumle.

National Reconstruction Authority executive director Govind Pokharel inaugurated the grant distribution in Lumle by handing over Rs 50,000 to Bare BK, a resident of Annapurna Rural Municipality.

So far, the government has distributed the first instalment amount to quake victims in 14 worst-affected districts, before providing housing grant to victims in Lumle, Kaski, a district which figures in the least affected districts category.

While receiving the housing grant, contract paper and grant amount, Bare BK shared his plan to start building a house once the rainy season got over.

“I’m staying put in my damaged house. Now that I’ve got the money, I’ll start reconstruction soon,” said another victim Tej Prasad Devkota.

Parliamentarian Sita Giri, Kaski Chief District Officer Hari Prasad Mainali and District Coordination Committee Kaski Local Development Officer Balaram Dhakal were present at the programme.