Damauli, September 18

Earthquake victims’ dream of shifting to new houses this Dashain is unlikely to materialise.

Four years have passed since the deadly quakes hit the country, but new houses, are yet to be constructed. This is sure to dash their dream of living in reconstructed houses this Dashain in Tanahun district.

The dream of the earthquake victims is unlikely to be fulfilled as they are waiting for the government grant. Information Officer Surya Prasad Sharma of District Project Implementation Unit said the houses of 554 beneficiaries could not be reconstructed on time.

Though various organisations had helped victims construct houses in Lamjung and Gorkha, the unit said the non-government organisations did not reach Tanahun to help as the government had not put the district in the most-affected list.

Single women, elderly and the disabled, among others, are in the list of beneficiaries.

The victims looked dejected as their dream of shifting to new houses at this Dashain wouldn’t be fulfilled. Sharma said initiatives had been taken to construct houses in coordination with the authority concerned.

Pudak Bahadur BK, a victim of  Suklagandaki Municipality, said he had hoped that the house would be constructed as his name was in the list of earthquake victims. “But delay in the construction of the house has frustrated me,” he added. He said this year’s Dashain would be celebrated in the huts.