Earthquake victims moving into a cracked house to escape cold

By Sher Bahadur Sarki, Bajura, Jan.18: The victims of the earthquake in the Bajura district, who were living under trampoline sheets to remain safe from the earthquake, have started returning to their cracked houses again due to a lack of other provisions and options. 

Many houses were torn apart due to earthquakes but since the government has failed to make better arrangements elsewhere, the earthquake victims have no option to return to their damaged houses.

On December 21, 2025, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake occurred in Gotri of Jagannath rural municipality. As a result, 146 houses were completely destroyed, and 866 houses were partially damaged.

Local Aatiram Damai of Gotri of Jagannath rural municipality -5 said that although his house got cracked in an earthquake however many other provisions or options from anywhere, I was forced to return to my destroyed house. 

He said, "We stayed under the trampoline sheet for some days due to the earthquake. The mercury started going down compelling us to opt for the destroyed house. "

He said that houses have been slowly cracking up because of numerous earthquakes that have been hitting the area since 2021. It is difficult to build a new house because of lack of finances. 

There are 45 years old houses built with mud and stone in Himali, Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, Jagannath Rural Municipality, Budhinanda Municipality, Gaumul Rural Municipality, Badimalika Municipality, Budhiganga Municplaity and Triveni Municipality and Khaptad Chhededaha rural Municipality. Now, the earthquake has caused great damage to these houses.

Chief District Officer of Bajura Megh Nath Padhya said that 1,666 houses were damaged by the 2022 earthquake and 1,844 by the 2023 earthquake, 146 were destroyed and 866 were partially destroyed by the earthquake of December 21, 2024. 

He said, "Earthquake-resistant houses need to be built to avoid earthquake-induced destruction however, houses still have been built in old designs which cause locals  to face a lot of risk while living in those houses."

Local levels have been corresponded to make locals build earthquake-resistant houses since there is a record of recent earthquakes causing great damage to the same house repeatedly. 

CDO Megh Nath Padhya said that since the earthquake victims lack enough finances even for the construction of houses, they have now requested 15 million rupees from the Ministry of Home Affairs.