A sign on the road reads ‘Model village Kamalkote’.

It is a decrepit 6x4-feet elevated block, perhaps one of the few intact structures in the village.

The rest is a scattered pile of rubble — a living memory of the earthquake that changed the landscape of the Valley on October 8. Officially, Kamalkote is one of the few villages that have been adopted as a "rehabilitation model".

But life here is far from normal. Single-room tin sheds serve as makeshift shelters for residents even after a year. Stories of loss and deprivation abound.

Barring the signboard, only one more structure stands above the plinth level. It is widow Hashim Bhi’s house, being built by the local Masjid Committee.

Kamalkote — in the thick of the disaster zone — reported 306 of the 667 deaths in Uri. Official statistics cite that the temblor razed 1,871 houses here.

"Every affected family was paid Rs 40,000 as first installment to build their homes. The administration started disbursing the second installment of Rs 30,000 from September 28," says sub-divisional magistrate Bashir Ahmad Dar.

But he adds that the second in- stallment would be paid only to those who have raised their houses up to plinth level.

"How will we build our houses? It costs between Rs 18,000 and Rs 20,000 just to get a truckload of bricks here, which is available for less than Rs 10,000 at other places," says sarpanch Mohammad Yousuf Khan.

Kundi Burjala is facing graver problems. Located three kilometres ahead on a mountain-top, a footpath connects the vil lage to Kamalkote.

"Apart from the construction cost, we have to fork out additional money for head-loaders to carry building material to our village," says resident Ghulam Patti. A truckload of bricks costs Rs 5,000.