It has been more than two years since the earthquake that struck Jajarkot with its epicenter in Ramidanda on 17 Kartik 2079 BS. The earthquake caused extensive damage in Jajarkot, Rukum, and Salyan.

Two years after the earthquake, a detailed damage assessment of private housing and collection of house damage details have finally begun in Salyan.

Due to the earthquake that occurred on Kartik 17, 2079, the government had not been able to collect detailed damage assessment and details because it had prioritized only Jajarkot and Rukum and had not paid any attention to Salyan. The detailed damage assessment has finally begun after the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, at the initiative of the Municipality and District Administration Office, Salyan, provided two-day training to the municipality's technicians a few days ago.

The earthquake damaged 4,374 physical structures, including 4,081 in Darma, Salyan, 129 in Kumakh, 152 in Triveni Rural Municipality, and 152 in Bagchaur Municipality. Although the government announced an immediate relief of Rs. 50,000 for the construction of temporary housing immediately after the earthquake that occurred on Kartik 17, 2079, more than 2,000 earthquake victims in Salyan have not yet received even the first installment of Rs. 25,000. The affected people, who were worried after not receiving relief, are now happy that a team has been formed to collect a detailed damage assessment for complete reconstruction.

The government has not been able to conduct a detailed damage assessment in Salyan so far, giving priority to only Jajarkot and Rukum, and after taking initiatives through various bodies, a detailed damage assessment and collection of details for the reconstruction of the houses of the earthquake victims has finally begun, said Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Subedi. He informed that the damage details of the estimated 4,374 beneficiaries registered in the disaster will be collected by establishing beneficiaries of the local government.

‘Under the detailed damage assessment and collection of details, the damage details have been classified into five parts, including housing condition, new construction, repair, and others. The technical team engaged in on-site monitoring and collecting damage details categorizes the houses according to the damage caused by the earthquake, and the affected people receive money for the complete reconstruction of their houses according to that classification,’ he said. ‘The detailed damage assessment will be completed within a month.’

Pushkar Karki, an engineer from Darma Rural Municipality, which was the most affected by the earthquake, said that Ward No. He said that a detailed damage assessment has been started with a team from the center from the houses of Tek Bahadur KC, Sita KC and others from Lira Paja. He informed that detailed damage details will be collected in all wards of the municipality within a month. ‘The technical team is going to the homes of all the affected people and collecting details from mobile phones,’ he said.

Darma Rural Municipality Chairman Nim Bahadur KC said that after the government started detailed damage assessment and collection of details, there is hope that the houses of the common people damaged by the earthquake will be completely rebuilt. He informed that the affected people are still forced to live in the houses and huts that were repaired because the government did not prioritize and did not manage them properly in time. He said that after the detailed damage assessment is collected for the reconstruction of the houses of the earthquake victims, the municipality will provide all possible assistance.