HETAUDA: The April 25 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks have rendered 85 per cent schools in Makawanpur unsafe. According to District Education Office, as many as 408 schools out of 520 in the district were deemed unsafe and were given red stickers. Classes are being run from temporary shelters, said District Education Officer Ganesh Prasad Poudel. He said that only 56 schools of the district were safe. He added that at least five students were killed in the disaster. Similarly, toilets in 164 schools, water supply in 105 schools, and compound walls of 37 schools were damaged. The government has released 13.4 million rupees to the district for reconstruction of structures and repairs of water supply. “We have received 12.7 million rupees as grant and 15 million rupees as reparation for quake victims,” said Assistant District Education Officer Khemananda Bhusal.

Alcohol-free village

POKHARA: A village in Lekhnath municipality, Kaski, has been declared alcohol and gambling-free zone. A gathering of villagers of Aradhana Tole in Lekhnath municipality made the announcement at a programme here on Wednesday. Speaking at the programme, Lekhnath Town Committee chairpersons Mohan Bahadur Gurung and Binaya Thapa hailed the announcement. “This will be crucial in controlling social crime in the village,” said Thapa. Gagangauda Police Post Assistant Sub-inspector Ujjwal Poudel applauded the villagers’ initiative and pledged to bring those acting against the rule to book. The gathering also announced ban on fishing with the use of electricity and pesticides at Khudikhola.