Kathmandu: Five days after a powerful earthquake jolted Nepal, its capital is slowly limping back to normalcy, with shops opening in several areas and electricity being restored partially in the quake-hit country.
There is also buzz on the road and supply of basic food items like milk and petrol is being gradually restored to Nepalese, who have been grappling with shortage of basic necessities since Saturday when the temblor struck.
However, it will take days for several far-flung areas to get back to normal because of the large-scale devastation. In Kathmandu, which has seen the maximum deaths, shops have started opening and electricity is being restored in several places - something which was missing over the past few days after the disaster.
The number of pyres burning at the Pashupatinath ghat along on the entire stretch of the Bagmati river, too, have seen a dip.
According to P V Chand, in-charge of policy and planning and international coordination committee of the Ministry of Health and Population, there were around 30,000 people in 16 camps spread across the Kathmandu Valley after the quakes, but now the figure has reduced to 23,000.
“I started selling my stuff since yesterday. What should one do? After all, everyone requires money to survive,” said 41-year-old Suresh Kumar, a native of Chitawan district, who sells clothes on the Gaushala road next to the Bagmati river bridge.
Another shopkeeper said: “Even I was scared, but when I saw people selling their stuff even I decided to start my business from yesterday.
“But the fear among people is still there. Today, there were three minor aftershocks. Several people are leaving Kathmandu.”
It is usual for people to wear masks in Kathmandu, but their number has increased after the quake due to the fear of epidemic and the stench emanating from the dead bodies.
Educational institutions have been asked to remain shut for 15 days more but the period could extend even further.
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