The winter this year is proving brutal for the earthquake victims in the country, most of whom are still living in temporary shelters and awaiting rehabilitation. Within a single month, biting cold has claimed eight lives in Sindhupalchowk, one of the worst-affected districts by the earthquake of April 25. All the eight deceased were elderly people from Thokarpa VDC in the district. Half of the total deceased have lost their lives within the last two weeks, according to Shiva Prasad Neupane, a local teacher and ward citizen charter coordinator. “Six of them were suffering from asthma. They couldn't hold out against the extremely cold conditions,” he said. Those who died range in age from 58 to 70 years old, according to Ram Bahadur Neupane, VDC secretary at Thokarpa. “I had seen three of the deceased sitting under the sun for warmth only a few weeks ago. I was surprised to hear about their deaths,” he said. Most of the deceased are from the marginalized Pahari community. Thokarpa VDC-3 has 158 households of Pahari community. As per Neupane, the VDC secretary, the village is full of patients suffering from cold. Children, elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases are the worst sufferers from cold-related illnesses. “Each household has a sick person,” he said. The relief materials provided to the earthquake victims so far are not enough to protect them from the chilly weather. Although the number of quake victims falling sick due to cold is on the rise in the district, the deaths signal deteriorating conditions. District Health Office (DHO) Chief Dr Sagar Kumar Rajbhandari informed that there has been a surge in the patients admitted to health facilities due to cold. “Over 150 patients of cold are admitted to the district hospital alone on a daily basis,” he said. Almost 90 per cent of houses in Sindhupalchowk were destroyed in the earthquake, according to figures compiled by the government and aid agencies. Around 200,000 affected have been living under temporary shelters since the last eight months following the disaster.