All 65 households of Karki Gaun have the same grievance — the government officials didn't even care to send rescue to their village.In the village located at distance of one kilometer from the district headquarters Dhulikhel and two kilometers from Banepa Municipality, majority of houses have been destroyed by Saturday's earthquake. Villagers were found hesitant to take shelter in the remaining few houses that are still standing but have developed cracks.
"We couldn't take out anything from the house except for the clothes we were wearing. Since the food grains got buried in the house, we've been asking others for food," said Bharat Bahadur Karki, a local of the village. He has been living in a makeshift shelter on a nearby field along with his family and livestock.
Similar is the situation of the neighboring Kuinkel Gaun. In the village of 35 households, most of the houses were built of mud and stones and were destroyed. Government officials haven't reached the village till late on Monday.
District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee informed that they haven't been able to reach the victims since they have not received relief materials from Kathmandu.
"It makes no sense for us to visit the victims without any relief materials to give away. For now, we're making efforts to collect whatever relief materials we can," said the Committee's Coordinator and the chief district officer, Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal.
It has been decided to buy 5,ooo tents by collecting funds from the District Development Committee, five municipalities and 72 Village Development Committees.
Meanwhile, the Kavrepalanchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and transportation entrepreneurs of Kavre have provided 250 sacks of dry food.
Likewise, Raj Bhakta Shrestha, director of Melamchi and Indrawati Stone Pvt Ltd, has sent 300 tents to the victims of Gairibisauna, Deupur, Mahadevsthan and Chandeni Mandan on Monday. "I'm soon sending 15 more tents to these villages," informed Shrestha.
KCCI's President Sur Krishna Vaidya also informed that Biratnagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry is all set to dispatch 600 packets each containing food items and buckets and mugs, to Kavre.
Hospitals treating victims
Scheer Memorial Hospital of Banepa and Dhulikhel Hospital have been providing health services to the quake injured.
As of Monday, Scheer Memorial Hospital has already treated 200 victims, while more than 600 are being treated at Dhulikhel Hospital.
Five pregnant women among those injured had caesarean section deliveries at the hospital on Sunday night.
Fifty-six more injured from Sindhupalchowk and Ramechhap were flown in by Nepal Army's helicopters on Monday. They're being treated at Dhulikhel Hospital.
Various social organizations and civil society of Dhulikhel have been assisting the hospital in providing food and accommodation for the victims.
Chinese health team in Dhulikhel, Sri Lankan team in Dolalghat
Medical teams from China and Sri Lanka have already reached Kavre and started work.
Along with Nepal Army, the Sri Lankan team has started giving medical service by setting up a mobile camp at Purano Bazaar in Dolalghat since Monday morning. Similarly, the Chinese team has set up its camp at Tundikhel in Dhulikhel.
Shops fleecing victims
Shops at Kavre's main business centers—Banepa, Dhulikhel, Panchkhal, Panauti and Bhakunde—have increased the prices of everyday commodities while fuel stations have have stopped selling diesel and petrol. This has hindered the movement of public vehicles.
Tents that normally cost up to Rs 2,500 are now being sold for up to Rs 7,000.
Upon the initiative of KCCI, food items were made to be sold in wholesale price in Banepa for two hours on Monday morning. But in other business centers of the district, people are still forced to pay higher prices for everyday items.
Death toll and number of injured increasing
As of Monday evening, the death toll in the district has reached 227, informed DSP Raj Kumar KC. This includes 84 women, 62 men and 81 children.
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