BHERIGANGA (Surkhet), Nov 5: The government has said that the work of search and rescue of those affected by the Jajarkot earthquake has reached its final stage.

All three levels of government are working in tandem to rescue the earthquake survivors in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim, the two districts largely affected by Friday night's tremor.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka and Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet visited the affected Jajarkot district to oversee the rescue operation and pledged to provide all required support for the same.

Similarly, the local, provincial and central governments are working together to ensure that the affected people are provided with immediate relief including medical treatment and daily essentials.

The Karnali Province government and other provincial governments have also distributed relief materials, while other social organizations are working to help the quake survivors.

The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale hit Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim at 11:47 PM on Friday night. Ramidanda of Jajarkot was the epicenter of the quake. According to the latest update from the police, 157 people have been confirmed dead with around 200 people injured.

The earthquake has caused a lot of material damage in Jajarkot headquarters Khalanga. Although official statistics on the damage is yet to come, there are many houses that have been completely damaged and many more partially damaged.

The earthquake in Jajarkot caused more damage to traditional houses than modern and concrete houses. Aman Chaudhary of Dang, who runs a business in Jajarkot, said that most of the houses destroyed in the earthquake in Jajarkot are old structures made up of stone and mud.

Locals said that there was not that much damage to concrete houses built recently.

Gopal BK of Bheri Municipality-2 said that a lot of houses made with stone and mud were damaged. The houses made of wood and the new concrete houses built in the marketplace have not been damaged that much. The Jajarkot Palace, too, was damaged in the earthquake.

Meanwhile, many earthquake survivors are spending the night under the open sky. With their houses destroyed or not safe to live in, they are forced to live under temporary tents.

Man Bahadur BK of Bheri Municipality-2 said that he is now living under the open sky with his children after his house was destroyed by the earthquake. "I am forced to stay out in the open with small children. The government has arranged tents, but it is very difficult during this cold season," he said.

(RSS)

 
• earthquake
 
• Jajarkot