Detailed assessment of Jajarkot, Rukum quake damage starts

By Shahadev Basnet,Jajarkot, Feb. 18: Nearly 15 months after the earthquake, a detailed assessment of the physical damage caused by the disaster has begun in Jajarkot and Rukum West districts. The earthquake struck with its epicentre in Ramidanda of Barekot Rural Municipality, Jajarkot on November 3, 2023.

According to the District Disaster Management Committee, the first phase of assessment has started in Bheri Municipality Ward Nos. 1, 3, 4, 8 and 11, as well as in Nalgaad Municipality Ward Nos. 1, 3 and 4.

Acting Chief District Officer of Jajarkot, Samir Gautam, said that engineers from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), local organisations and municipalities have been deployed to assess the damage. He added that the engineers have undergone orientation training before being mobilised in the field.

So far, 34,000 temporary shelters have been built in Jajarkot, 32,000 in Rukum West and 1,300 in Salyan. The earthquake claimed the lives of 154 people in  Jajarkot and Rukum West districts.

Nalgaad Municipality Mayor, Dambar Bahadur Rawat, expressed that though delayed, beginning a detailed damage assessment was a positive step for the rehabilitation of the earthquake victims. He assured that the municipality is fully committed to completing its responsibilities in this process.

Similarly, Deepak Rana, Ward Chairperson of Bheri Municipality-1, said that the initiation of the Detailed Damage Assessment (DDA) marks the beginning of the reconstruction process for the earthquake-affected communities.

Earthquake survivor Purna Bahadur Rawat from Bheri Municipality-1 said that although the reconstruction process has been slow, the government's decision to deploy technical experts to assess houses has renewed their hope of securing permanent housing.

According to the District Disaster Management Committee, a total of 40,041 households have been identified as beneficiaries in Jajarkot.