Jajarkot: The earthquake that struck on November 3 with its epicenter around Barekot rural municipality-1, Ramidanda of Jajarkot has left 54 police offices in Karnali province severely damaged. Karnali Police chief, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Bhim Prasad Dhakal, reported extensive destruction to police structures, ranging from district police offices to temporary police posts. In the aftermath of the earthquake, law enforcement personnel find themselves compelled to operate from tents.

According to DIG Dhakal, the earthquake inflicted damage on 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. Rukum West experienced damage to the District Police Office, two area police posts, four police units, and five temporary police posts. Salyan faced the destruction of three police posts, while Jumla and Kalikot witnessed the dismantling of police offices and posts.

The situation is dire in Rawalgaun, Bheri municipality-1 of Jajarkot, where the temporary police post's rented building sustained cracks. Personnel there are conducting day-to-day operations from tents. Similarly, in Khalanga, the district police office is relying on tents for both daily work and accommodation, with seven out of eight buildings deemed uninhabitable due to cracks, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Santosh Roka.

DSP Nawaraj Bhattarai noted that wrought-out structures of police offices were demolished in Rukum West, with complete damage to the Purtimkanda, Solawang, and Simli police posts. Several police posts, including Sankha-based temporary police post, Syalakhadi police post, Peepal, Jhulneta, and Area Police Office Chaurjahari, suffered partial damages.

Even the residence of Chief District Officer Suresh Sunar in Jajarkot showed cracks, and the old structures of the District Administration Office were deemed unsuitable for living. DIG Dhakal emphasized that only 25 percent of the 308 police units across the province have their own buildings, putting approximately 75 percent at risk due to the earthquake's impact.