Kailali fire victims await rehabilitation

By Our Correspondent, Dhangadi, July 29: The fire-displaced families of Bipatpur, Kailali Rural Municipality-7, Kailali have been living a miserable life, as authorities concerned have yet to take initiative for their rehabilitation. 

On April 24, a total of 35 households of free Kamaiyas of Bipatpur were displaced after a massive fire reduced their houses to ashes while leaving 36 other houses partially damaged. All properties in those households were gutted in the fire.

Many victims who were rendered homeless by the disaster have been forced to spend monsoon in makeshift tents, most of which are in dilapidated condition.  

They were provided with tarpaulins as immediate relief from various humanitarian organisations.

Even after three months, they have not been able to begin the construction of their houses. The onset of the monsoon has only added to their misery.  According to the victims, the tents distributed by various humanitarian organisations started to get damaged due to the scorching heat and rain, adding to their woes.  

Though they were provided with some relief immediately after the incident, the government has yet to take measure to reconstruct their houses, claimed the victims.  “Every day we pray to god for no rain because once it starts raining, water starts dripping from the tent, and we are having hard time keeping our children safe,” said Janaki Devi Chaudhary.

The Sudurpaschim Province government had pledged to reconstruct their houses. Hingu Chaudhary said the victims have been expecting help from the government because they don’t even have woods to build a house. 

“We have nothing because all our properties were gutted by the fire. The government had promised to reconstruct our houses and we are waiting for that,” said Chaudhary. Bhalmansa Chaudhary has requested the government to rebuild their houses immediately as the tents are getting dilapidated due to heat and rain.

Earlier, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Sudurpaschim Province, Dr. Ran Bahadur Rawal, provided some monetary reliefs to the victims, as did the other organisations.  Dauram Choudhary, another victim, said that some families are having problems because they have been living on aid and now all the food is running out of stock. 

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Kiran Thapa, who is also the chairman of the district disaster management committee, said that he has recommended the division forest office to provide woods to the victims to build their houses.

Mentioning that the forest would provide the needed woods, Thapa informed that the provincial government would provide aid to reconstruct safe housing for the victims. The Ministry of Lands, Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives assured that the fire victims will get their houses reconstructed. 

Minister Binita Chaudhary's personal secretary Dilig Binadi informed that the budget has been allocated in the current financial year to build houses for victims.The process of making a procedure for building a house is going on, he said, adding "As soon as the procedure is made, the work of building a house will start".