“I have eaten nothing for three days. Please give me something to eat,” pleaded Belmati Sherchan of Syaulibang-5. [break]
The villagers had gone to the local community forest on Friday morning after the forest had been opened for cutting elephant grass. Everyone from Syaulibang 5, 6 and 7 had gone to the forest to get grass so that they could thatch the roofs of their houses.
“When we returned, the houses had been burnt to cinders,” Sherchan said breaking into tears. Her family of four has been living under the open sky with nothing to eat.
Nobody knows how the fire broke out and the locals guess the houses might have caught fire while the children were playing. Fifty-seven houses were gutted in the fire.
The village is a 10-hour trek from district headquarters. The police and relief team could reach the place only on Sunday morning. The relief team had taken some beaten rice and noodles, which was not sufficient to feed all the victims.
The police have estimated a loss of around 35 million rupees. No casualty has been reported but more than 200 children and elderly have fallen ill due to lack of shelter in the biting cold. To make matters worse, the nearby health centers do not have enough “Please send us some food to eat and clothes to ward off the cold,” pleaded Khani Sherchan.
The villagers don´t even have drinking water as supply of water from the local Thulogaun Drinking Water Project has been disrupted after the fire. Electric poles have also been damaged and there is no electricity in the village.
Home Minister announces relief
Meanwhile, Home Minister Bhim Rawal, who visited the village on Sunday, has announced a compensation of Rs 5,000 to each family. Likewise, tents, clothes and other relief materials have also been flown in through choppers.
Related story
Flood survivors continue to spend nights under open sky in Kali...
