Fifteen months after the devastating Jajarkot earthquake, reconstruction has finally begun—but only in Doti, one of the affected districts. In Jajarkot, the quake’s epicenter, and Rukum West, authorities are still collecting damage details, delaying the rebuilding process. The prolonged wait has forced victims to endure two harsh winters in makeshift tents.
In the first phase, government authorities have signed agreements with more than 600 beneficiaries in Doti. The state-owned national news agency RSS reported that preparations are underway to disburse grant money within a few days.
However, in Jajarkot and Rukum West, reconstruction remains on hold as officials continue assessing the damage. According to Dr. Bhishma Kumar Bhusal, executive chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), data for Doti had already been collected last year and later reviewed, allowing reconstruction to proceed. In contrast, detailed assessments are still ongoing in the other two districts. Approximately 9,000 beneficiaries have been identified in Doti so far.
According to RSS, the NDRRMA is preparing a detailed report of private houses damaged by the earthquake in western Nepal by signing an agreement with the Centre for Disaster Management Studies and the Institute of Engineering under Tribhuvan University.
A team led by NDRRMA Under Secretary Bedanidhi Khanal, along with officials Sudip Bikram Bhatta and Ram Bahadur KC, has been deployed to Jajarkot for on-site verification, added RSS. They conducted training for engineers and technicians from local governments, the Ministry of Urban Development, and national and international NGOs. The technicians were deployed only on Monday, according to RSS. A similar team has also been sent to Rukum West.
The magnitude 6.4 earthquake on November 3, 2023, claimed 157 lives, including 105 in Jajarkot and 52 in Rukum West. It caused widespread destruction, leaving hundreds homeless. While the reconstruction is now underway in Doti, affected families in Jajarkot and Rukum West are still not sure when the rebuilding process will begin.
