Dhading,-Victims of the April 25 tremor, who have been sheltering under tents, are facing a hard time due to the soaring heat and incessant rainfall in Dhading.

“It is very hard to stay inside the tent due to extreme heat and it is equally difficult to adjust outside for want of shade,” regretted Dil Maya Tamang, a victim who has been staying at a temporary camp in Sangkosh Dhansarbeshi of the district.
Her house had collapsed in the earthquake. She said, “We can’t stay under the tent during day due to extreme heat and it is hard to stay inside during night as rain water leaks.”

Dal Singh Tamang, 67, has no option but to shelter in the tent with seven members of his family. “We feel suffocated in the tent. It neither blocks the heat, nor the rain. The earthquake has ruined everything.” he said.

The victims complained that the shelter provided by the district disaster rescue committee was pathetic. More than 2,000 individuals of 700 households of northern Dhading including Lapa, Ree, Sertung, Tiplinge and Jharlang VDCs have been sheltering at Sangkosh, Muralibhanjyang, Alchhidanda of Dhadingbeshi.

The worst hit are the 300 households residing in the open in the Alchhidanda forest area. The victims said they faced hunger, shortage of drinking water, toilet, electricity and medication. They do not have necessary clothes, only the tent. Some of them sleep on dried leaves.

Children and the elderly have been affected most. They are suffering from common cold, cough, diarrhoea and fever due to the lack of proper sanitation around the camp area.

“Our land and other property are in the village, but we have no option but to shelter in others’ land here as we are not in a position to return our villages,” lamented Ambar Tamang of Ree VDC.

The victims complained that though it had been months since they left their villages, the government was apathetic to their plight. Their first choice is to return to the village and use their land and property. As this is not happening so they want the  government to manage safe and timely rehabilitation and have demanded this through the District Disaster Rescue Committee.

Nepal Red Cross Society Dhading chapter has managed a regular mobile health camp fearing the spread of diseases due to poor sanitation at the campsite. It has been managing drinking water, health check-up and sanitation facilities for victims.

CDO Basu Dev Ghimire said they were trying to manage all the necessities at the site itself, as there was slim chance of relocating victims soon.