Nepal's Earthquake Aftermath: Survivors Perform Funeral Rites for the Deceased, Facing an Ambiguous Future

A powerful earthquake in western Nepal has left a riverside village in mourning. Grieving survivors are gathering around funeral pyres to say goodbye to the 13 people who lost their lives in the 6.4-magnitude quake. The remote Jajarkot district, one of the hardest hit areas, is now filled with concerns about the future. Since the earthquake destroyed their homes, survivors have been sleeping outside in the cold and are in desperate need of assistance. With 157 people dead and over 300 injured, Jajarkot, located in the Karnali province, suffered heavily in Friday's earthquake. Some mourners at the Thuli Bheri river banks were so overwhelmed that they fainted and had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. Among those who were cremated was Hire Kami, who had temporarily returned from India to attend the Tihar light festival in Jajarkot. Hattiram Mahar, Kami's relative, tried to rescue him from the rubble and showed the BBC the exact spot where he was found clinging to life, urging people to avoid stepping on it. According to Mahar, people used bowls, plates, and household items to dig for survivors. Hari Bahadur Chunara, Kami's friend, also attended the funeral and recalled how the earthquake struck in the middle of the night, leaving the entire village in cries and unable to think clearly. As the sun set, the funeral pyres were extinguished, and the survivors began their journey uphill towards the remnants of their village, hoping relief materials would arrive soon. Concerns were raised about children spending another night in the cold without shelter, and further down the Thuli Beri river, in Aathbiskot, earthquake survivor Ganesh Malla was receiving treatment for his injuries. Malla lost his two daughters, and his wife and son were also injured, but he did not know where they were being treated. Orthopedic surgeon Padam Giri at the hospital recalled the influx of patients following the quake and how they provided clothes to those who had lost everything. Another resident of Aathbiskot, Kul Bahadur Malla, appealed for help, asking the government to arrange for shelter and food for the victims who had lost their homes. The epicenter of the quake was in Barekot, where the damage was not as severe as in Jajarkot. However, the mud and stone houses collapsed while the concrete houses of the wealthier residents remained mostly intact. Ganesh JC, a teacher in Barekot, highlighted the plight of the poor who are now suffering from floods, landslides, and earthquakes.