MOUNTING WOES TO QUAKE VICTIMS IN GORKHA DISTRICT
Gorkhabazar, May
3, The 7.8 magnitude earthquake with the epicenter at Barpak of Gorkha district
caused huge loss of lives and properties here.
So far, the
number of death caused by the earthquake has reached 710 while 1,100 got
serious injuries. More than 30 have gone out of contact. The search for the
missing ones is continuous.
The Barpak
village alone lost 66 lives. The village recorded serious injury to 120 persons
who have been undergoing treatment at different hospitals of Pokhara city. They
were rescued by helicopters.Among 1,272 houses at Barpak village, 1,069 has
been flatten. Most of those killed in the quake are elderly ones and children.
Similarly,
adjoining Saurapani VDC recorded 41 deaths, while Simjung VDC 35, Thumi VDC 20,
Manbu VDC 20, Hansakot and Kharibot VDC 32 combined, Muchchok VDC 24, Swara VDC
18, Chhoprak VDC six, and Bakram VDC five
Sun Maya Gurung,
18, from Simbu of Saurapani-9 was engulfed with debris while she was on labour
pain. Recued alive in two hours, she gave birth after nine hours in a cave.
She was airlifted
to district headquarters after three days. Since then she received treatment at
district hospital, but the baby caught jaundice. About to return village for
lack of money for treatment, Gurung was provided Rs 20,000 relief by Rajendra
Bajgain. She is now receiving treatment at a better hospital in Chitwan.
Similar are the
harrowing stories shared by the women having infant and those with physical
disability.Many are demanding tents with the District Development Committee.Physically
challenged Manamaya Roka, 65, from Gorkha municipality-2 said her family has
not been provided any relief. "I've been surviving just with water."
However, the
District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee has said the first phase of the
rescue and relief distribution was focused in the worst hit and far-flung
areas.Dhansingh Gurung was buried in a mound at Yamgaon village of Gumda VDC
while he was grazing cattle. He was rescued alive on the fifth day of the
tragedy. His body is full of injuries.
Pokharatar, a
beautiful settlement of Simjung VDC, lost 13 persons while nine were injured.
The children are
still horrified; even a brief rustle with wind or any sound as of vehicles is
enough to panic them now.So far, 1,890 pregnant women have been affected by the
earthquake across the district, said Nawaraj Khadka, Spokesperson at the
District Public Health Office. As many as 65,937 houses were destroyed in the
district.
Gorkha district
is in need of nearly 45,000 tents. But only 3,179 have been distributed so far.
The relief distribution is delayed, for the district has already received
15,851 tents.But, rescue committee claimed that the distribution of tents,
noodles, beaten rice, bottled water to the quake victims was continuous,.