Earthquake Devastates 54 Police Offices in Karnali Province; Law Enforcement Shifts Operations to Tents

A destructive earthquake that struck on November 3, centered around Barekot rural municipality 1, Ramidanda in Jajarkot, has left a trail of destruction, with 54 police offices in Karnali province bearing the brunt of the disaster. Karnali Police Chief, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Bhim Prasad Dhakal, revealed that the earthquake wreaked havoc on police structures, ranging from district police offices to temporary police posts, compelling law enforcement to carry out their duties from tents.

According to DIG Dhakal, the quake caused extensive damage to police infrastructure, affecting 33 police buildings in Jajarkot, 12 in Rukum West, three in Salyan, four in Jumla, and two in Kalikot. In Jajarkot, four buildings of the District Police Office were dismantled, along with 12 area police posts, 10 police units, six temporary police posts, and the district traffic police office.

Similarly, Rukum West faced damage to its District Police Office, two area police posts, four police units, and five temporary police posts. Salyan witnessed the destruction of three police posts, while Jumla and Kalikot each experienced the dismantling of key police structures.

In Bheri municipality-1 of Jajarkot, the temporary police post at Rawalgaun suffered structural cracks, prompting the police to conduct their day-to-day operations from tents. The District Police Office in Khalanga, Jajarkot’s district headquarters, faced a similar situation, with police personnel relying on tents for their daily work and accommodation.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Santosh Roka highlighted that seven out of eight buildings in the district police office were uninhabitable due to cracks. The district police office in Jajarkot was established in 2034 BS, and DSP Nawaraj Bhattarai noted the complete breakdown of structures in Rukum West, particularly in Purtimkanda, Solawang, and Simli police posts.

The earthquake caused partial damages to the structures of Sankha-based temporary police post, Syalakhadi police post, Peepal, Jhulneta, and Area Police Office Chaurjahari. Even the residence of Chief District Officer Suresh Sunar in Jajarkot faced structural cracks, emphasizing the widespread impact beyond law enforcement.

DIG Dhakal revealed a concerning statistic, stating that only 25 percent of the 308 police units across the province have their own buildings. Approximately 75 percent of the buildings housing police units and offices are now deemed at risk. Urgent attention and resources are crucial to rebuild and reinforce police infrastructure in the affected areas to ensure the resumption of effective law enforcement services.