Doti earthquake victims still languish in makeshift shelters

By Dil Bahadur Singh,Doti, July 26: Gamai Saud, 42, from Uparkanda village, Purbi Chowki Rural Municipality-5 in Doti, has been unable to sleep well for nine months. 

Since the earthquake that struck on the night of November 8, 2022, Saud and his family have been living in a temporary shelter, struggling with the harsh winter and rain.

More than 4,000 earthquake-affected families in the district continue to suffer due to inadequate relief and rehabilitation programmes. 

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 539 houses were completely destroyed and 4,193 houses were partially damaged in the Doti earthquake, resulting in the loss of six lives.

Local authorities have been voicing their complaints that the lack of budget allocation from the provincial and central governments has hindered the relief and assistance to the earthquake victims. 

The local levels of Doti have been urging the provincial and central governments for support. 

A sum of Rs. 13.5 million allocated for the fiscal year 2022/2023 has been frozen. The most impacted municipalities in the district are Purbi Chowki and Sayal Rural Municipality.

Sayal Rural Municipality is grappling with the highest frozen budget in the district. 

A total of Rs. 40.9 million, designated for operational and capital expenses, is currently inaccessible. 

Chairman Dharmaraj Joshi of the rural municipality explained that the funds froze due to project delays. Infrastructure projects, such as buildings and roads, that were supposed to be completed in the previous fiscal year could not be finished on time, owing to the budget freeze.

Overall, the earthquake victims in Doti continue to face challenges in rebuilding their lives, as the lack of proper relief measures. 

The budget constraints hinder rehabilitation efforts.