BAJURA, OCTOBER 7The repeated jolts of earthquakes have left the local residents terrified, forcing them to abandon their homes and seek refuge in open spaces in Bajura, Bajhang and Achham districts. PM Dahal visits earthquake-affected Bajhang, assures immediate relief Two more earthquakes with Bajhang epicenter Families affected by the earthquake are in dire straits as they are living in the open abandoning their homes.The continuous quakes with epicentre in Bajhang have created a constant sense of fear, affecting around hundreds of families in Bajura, Bajhang, and Achham. Many homes have been displaced, leaving people with no choice but to live in makeshift shelters.

Schools and other buildings have also been affected, adding to the challenges faced by the community.In Juwapani, Budiganga Municipality, Bajura, the earthquake has completely destroyed the house of Bhobindra Nepali, forcing his family of seven to live in a makeshift shelter made of bamboo and tarpaulin.Similarly, in various places in Juwapani, families have either taken shelter in tents or are living in the open.Min Bahadur Singh, the ward chairman, stated that several families are residing in temporary shelters due to the risks associated with their damaged homes.The situation is grim in areas like Budiganga Municipality, Gaumul Rural Municipality,and Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality, with a significant number of houses either damaged or in high-risk zones.The earthquake that struck on Tuesday has caused extensive damage in Bajura, destroying 88 houses completely and partially damaging 95 houses, said the District Police Office.Ten schools and government offices have also suffered significant damage.Additionally, the earthquake claimed the life of Gunmati Dhami, a female volunteer of Jayaprithvi Municipality, Bajhang, who was killed in the landslide triggered by the earthquake.Bajhang district administration has reported complete destruction of 315 private houses and 21 public buildings, including schools and ward offices.Nepal sits in an earthquake-prone region, with the collision of the Indian Plate from the south and the Eurasian Plate from the north, creating a high-risk seismic zone.The areas where these plates interact are especially vulnerable.Nepal's central belt experiences major earthquakes approximately every 200 years, while the eastern region has not experienced a significant earthquake since 1990.The energy accumulates in the earth's crust over time, and when released, it can result in powerful earthquakes.

This geological phenomenon poses a constant threat to the country, say experts.A version of this article appears in the print on October 8, 2023, of The Himalayan Times .

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