The historical palaces of Thaple and Pipaldanda in Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jajarkot, were severely damaged by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake on November 3, 2023. Two months later, the quake-ravaged structures, including government offices, a hotel, and residential units, remain standing. Some owners and former parliamentarians have urged the federal government to resume reconstruction efforts. Negotiations are ongoing to transfer the ownership of the damaged Mathillo Durbar to the Department of Archaeology for federal reconstruction. The earthquake also affected over 300 government and community buildings, with the district disaster management committee recording 152 structures destroyed.
In addition to the structural damage, the earthquake displaced over 60,000 families in the Karnali province, with Jajarkot being a significant epicenter. Despite the provision of a Temporary Housing Construction Grant by the federal government, only around 17,000 temporary huts have been constructed two months after the disaster. The grant aims to provide Rs50,000 in two tranches to families with damaged or uninhabitable homes, but many beneficiaries are yet to receive the aid. The aftermath of the earthquake has left thousands displaced, facing challenges such as inadequate shelter, while the historic palaces await reconstruction.
The earthquake also impacted the security infrastructure, damaging 54 police posts in Jajarkot, Rukum West, Salyan, Jumla, and Kalikot districts. Police personnel have been conducting rescue and assessment work, with damaged buildings hindering their operations. Despite challenges, the affected regions are grappling with the need for urgent reconstruction efforts and assistance to address the widespread impact on historical sites, residential areas, and security infrastructure.
