The situation has become dire because the Malangawa jail houses more prisoners than its actual capacity.
The prisoners are kept in the camp as the additional building required for them is yet to be constructed, admitted Anil Acharya, jailer of Malangwa prison. [break]
The jailhouse has the capacity of accomodating only 75 male prisoners but more than 170 convicts have been serving sentences in the prison´s building lately. An employee at the prison said that 140 captives are kept in the building and other remaining 30 inmates have been accomodated in the camp.
The life of these 30 prisoners living in the camp has become strenuous as the cold in the Terai has mounted a few days back. Bilash Mahato, 71, a prisoner made to stay in the camp, said he cannot brave the bitter cold as he has only bed sheets to stave off the cold.
Increase in the number of prisoners has created drinking water and sanitation problems. “We have to wait several hours in order to go to toilet as there are only four toilets for 170 inmates,” said Bikauraj Yadav, head of the prisoners.
Inmates fear that the dilapidated old prison building may come down as it has developed deep cracks. Presumably the jailhouse was constructed in 1940 and had developed cracks in the earthquake of September 18, 2011.
The prisoners also said that they face lots of difficulties during the rainy season than in the winter season.
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