Kathmandu, Nov 5: Nepal’s authorities on Sunday scrambled to rush aid to those affected by Friday’s earthquake that killed 157 people and left a trail of destruction in the Himalayan nation’s remote mountainous region.
The earthquake with an epicentre in Jajarkot district, about 500 km west of Kathmandu, was recorded just before midnight on Friday. As the earthquake destroyed hundreds of houses in the mountainous region, several people had to spend Saturday night under the open sky.
Out of a total of 157 people who died in the tragedy, the bodies of 120 have so far been handed over to the family members. About 253 people were injured in the quake, the most devastating in the country since 2015. The relatives of victims were now preparing for their cremations.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Sunday held a Cabinet meeting, during which he decided to provide Rs. 2 lakh cash each to the family of those killed in the Jajarkot earthquake as immediate relief, according to officials.
The Nepal government also decided to provide free medical treatment to those injured in the earthquake.
During the meeting, it was also decided to prepare an integrated action plan to construct earthquake-resistant housing within one year for the rehabilitation of those affected.
It was decided that Surkhet municipality in the Karnali province would be the main liaison office and Nepalgunj the auxiliary liaison office to make the search, rescue and relief distribution works effective, said Government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma.
Makeshift huts will be provided to the affected people at the earliest, Sharma added. “All the injured individuals will receive treatment free of cost, whatever may the cost be,” Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet said after the Cabinet meeting.
According to the minister, the rescue efforts for earthquake victims have been completed. But rescuers are still looking for people who could be trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings.
“The distribution of food, tarps, and tents has already begun in some affected areas, with plans for further deliveries in progress. The government is committed to ensuring that all necessary assistance is provided to the survivors,” he said.
This time, the government will rectify the weaknesses that occurred during the 2015 earthquake response, he pointed out.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Nepal’s immediate neighbours, India and China, and the United States have offered support with logistics and search for the victims by sending rescue teams to the country. Since various countries have expressed willingness to extend assistance to the earthquake victims, the government will formulate standards for the type of aid it can accept, Basnet said.
According to Nepal Army sources, relief materials arrived in Aathbiskot of Rukum West municipality. (PTI)
