GORKHA, April 25: Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality of Gorkha district has given a public holiday today.
The public holiday has been given in memory of those losing lives in the Gorkha Earthquake that claimed thousands of lives in 2015, according to the Rural Municipality Chairman Bishnu Prasad Bhatta.
The Gorkha Earthquake had jolted the country with its epicenter at Barpak- Ward No 1 and 2 of Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality, on Baisakh 12, 2072BS. The earthquake measuring 7.8 Richter Scale devastated the country, killing over 9,000 people and injuring over 22,000 people.
Chairman Bhatta further informed that during the public holiday, all government offices, health institutions, schools and public institutions will remain closed.
Even a special function is being organized at Barpak on this occasion today. Chairman Bhatta further informed that Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha is scheduled to attend the programme.
Meanwhile, despite the passage of eight years since the devastating earthquake, the earthquake memorial park has not been completed yet.
The government had announced plans to build the memorial park. The construction to this began five years back, but it is still incomplete.
However, engineer at federal project implementation unit in Pokhara, Purushottam Pangemi, informed that 94 percent of physical infrastructures were built for the park.
Importantly, the contracting company had aimed at completing the project within 30 months since beginning in 2074BS. "Construction of the memorial mandala is over," engineer Pangeni said, even chips and painting are managed. The 'memorial pillar' will be the centre of attraction in the park, he added.
In the park, there will also be a flower garden, a canteen, two toilets, and parking lot. Blacktopping, retention wall, canteen, ticket counter are also made in the park. Blacktopping is done on a 400 meter road inside the park.
The park owned by the government is being built in the area of some 216 ropanis of land.
Engineer Pangeni further shared there will be separate pillars for those killed in the earthquake. "Writing names in copper plates of those killed in the earthquake remains now. Although the Home Ministry was urged for provide the victims' names, the Ministry was delaying it, he complained.