KATHMANDU, April 27: Two days after the devastating quake shook the capital, tens of thousands of people were seen leaving for their hometowns outside the Valley on Monday fearing possible outbreak of an epidemic.
There are fears of a possible epidemic outbreak as bodies buried in the rubble of collapsed buildings and structures have yet to be removed.
Raj Neupane and Utsab Neupane, who had reached Kalanki in the morning to take a bus for their home district Gulmi said they couldn’t get into any bus as buses leaving for districts outside the capital were overcrowded. They then reached Gongabu hoping to catch a bus there, but there too they faced disappointment and returned to their rented room at Tinthana.
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SK Gautam, who is a school principal at Nakkhu in Lalitpur, is also planning to leave for his hometown Inaruwa in Sunsari district. “An epidemic outbreak is likely in the aftermath of the earthquake, so we are leaving for our home town as soon as possible,” Gautam told Republica.
Khemmraj Paudel, had also tried to catch a bus to Morang on Monday, but he failed to get any vehicle as all the buses leaving for districts outside the capital were overcrowded.
Sadananda Bhattarai, who had come to the capital from Urlabari, Morang for a family tour has decided to cut short his visit and leave for his hometown on Tuesday. He says it is not safe to stay in the capital.
As schools and other offices have decided to remain closed for a week in the Kathmandu Valley, many people have started leaving for their home towns. Meanwhile, doctors have urged people to keep places clean to prevent possible outbreak of an epidemic.
Director General of the epidemiology division Baburam Marasini said, “People should take warm and fresh food, drink safe water either boiled or chlorinated and not litter in camp areas. People should also wash hands with soap and water or use fork and spoon. People should not defecate in the open.” Dr Pravin Mishra said haphazardly thrown waste poses a threat of the spread of air and water borne diseases. He has also urged people to throw waste only in allotted places.
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