Kapilvastu: When it is raining incessantly, any creature seeks a safe haven. Moreover, when referring to people, the neighbors are the first option. The Lamichhane family, who have been living in squatter settlements residence of Kapilvastu, have been suffering similar pain. The incident took place on September 5. Nandakali Lamichhane was oiling her 11-month-old daughter.
As the wall of the house melted due to incessant rain, the house suddenly collapsed. She grabbed her daughter in her arms and rushed out. The head of the daughter was injured and the body of the mother was also injured. “We were in the daytime. If it was nighttime, we probably wouldn’t have survived,” said Nandakali.
Gyanendra Lamichhane, who has been living in a squatter settlement of Shivaraj Municipality-5, East Rahatkol, is now homeless. He has no property of his parents and has been living in this area as a squatter. Lamichhane’s family, who get tired every year during the rainy season, are now living in a neighbor’s house. He is moving around in the municipality office appealing for help.
Lamichhane, who had been directly involved in the Maoist people’s war for nearly seven years, after his father fell ill, took leave and went to take care of his father. Within a few months after his father’s death, Lamichhane went to India for employment.
After spending almost three years in India, he came to Nepal and made Chandrauta his permanent residence. He has raised goats with a loan from the Agriculture Development Bank and is now paying interest hardly. He does not have money to build a house after his house has collapsed. He reached Ward No. 5 office and appealed for help. The ward office wrote a letter to help the municipality.
Lamichhane, who reached the municipality on Tuesday, returned disappointed after hearing the municipality’s reply. When the response came that help would be given only in case of death of a person due to floods, he lamented that the poor will not get help until they die. “We have been demanding Zinc sheets in the municipality for the last two years. So far we have not been able to get zinc sheets,” said Lamichhane.
Not only Lamichhane’s house but also Amar Rana’s house adjacent to his house is in danger of collapsing. The Rana family’s house in Tatile Bare was destroyed by water and now they are surrounded by plastics. In the first phase, food grains can be provided and if requested, the municipality will also provide zinc sheets, the official said.
Stating that he is ready to serve the citizens, the mayor said that he will provide assistance if the victim fulfills the rules and demands in the city. Mayor Netra Raj Adhikari said that the disaster management committee would provide relief on the recommendation of the ward if the house collapsed and there was no shelter.
Ram Abatar Chaudhary
Be First to Comment