Survivors recount nightmare of devastation
27 April 2015 11:07 PM IST
Shaken and traumatised by their homes turning into a rubble by the powerful earthquake in Nepal that also flattened buildings and iconic monuments, survivors were struggling to come to terms with the calamity and the loss of lives of their dear ones.
Even as the toll from the quake crossed the 2,000-mark, it was the spectre of aftershocks that kept people on the edge while equally pressing problems of food and shelter loomed for many who have been left homeless by the tremors yesterday.
Among the terrified people are hundreds of Indians who are in the country either to work or as tourists. Caught in the middle of the devastation, their first thought is to head back home. “We are very shocked to see what happened here yesterday.
It was very sad... My whole family is suffering as there is no food, water and almost all the shops are closed,” said a labourer in the Nepalese capital hailing from Kolkata.
“At least 500-1,000 workers have come here... we all want to go back. We have no idea how to go back home as there is no information because the electricity is cut off. We know some rescue planes have been flown in from India, we are trying to reach those and go back home,” he said.
Thousands of people were displaced as the powerful 7.9- magnitude temblor ripped through Nepal. Roads developed huge cracks and buildings were brought to the ground.
People had to spend the night under the open sky but even so there was no relief as the aftershocks meant that hardly anybody could sleep.
Over 550 Indians have been evacuated so far by Indian Air Force as the country stepped up its relief and rescue efforts as part of Operation Maitri.
“I have been living here with my family for the past 20 years. We were sitting inside a room when we felt the earth shaking; we ran out and saw people scrambling to get to safety.
“We have a little bit of food that was given to us... Not only me, everybody here at the relief camp is facing a shortage of food and water. We really want to go to back to Kolkata but how will we do so is a concern,” said another worker from Kolkata.
Thomas Nybo, a freelance photographer, was sitting in a coffee shop in Kathmandu’s Thamel district when he felt what he first thought was only a minor tremor.
“This region is no stranger to earthquakes. A lot of people had the same feeling, that it is a tremor and it will pass. But when they saw that that wasn’t the case, they were in uncharted territory,” he told a TV news channel.
22 climbers die as quake triggers avalanche on Mt Everest
At least 22 climbers have died and 217 others were missing near the base camp of Mt Everest where hundreds of climbers, including many foreigners, are stranded after an avalanche triggered by Nepal’s massive earthquake swept down the world’s highest peak.
More than 60 climbers were injured and many foreign adventurers, hikers and guides at the base camp were feared missing when the avalanche swept down the Everest and buried under snow a section of the mountaineering camp yesterday.
While 17 people were killed at the base camp, five more casualties were reported today from areas below the base camp, Home Ministry officials said.
“Tents have been blown away,” Gelu Sherpa, who was at the camp when disaster struck, said, adding, “There is a lot of confusion on the mountain and the toll will rise.”
Thirty-two people have been rescued from the region till now.
Suresh Acharya, joint secretary at the Tourism Ministry, said they were airlifted by five rescue helicopters.
Twenty-two of the most seriously injured climbers were today ferried by helicopters, including from the Indian Air Force, to Pheriche village, the nearest medical facility, though bad weather is hampering rescue and relief operations.
Some of the injured have also been air lifted to the capital.
Romanian climber Alex Gavan, who was at base camp, posted on his Twitter account: “All badly injured heli evacuated. Caring for those needing. want sleep.”
There were more than 100 climbers also at camps I and II on Mount Everest, above the base camp, and all are reported safe, Nepal Mountaineering Association officials said today, adding that it will take time before these people can be evacuated.
A mountaineering team of Indian Army who were hiking on Everest were also safe at the base camp (17,500 ft) and had yesterday helped pull out 13 bodies, an Indian army spokesman said.
Another 54-year-old Indian attempting to climb all the highest peaks in the seven continents, is stuck at Camp II on Everest along with 11 other fellow climbers. Ankur Bahl, part of the Madison Group, had moved to Camp II from Camp I yesterday but is now stranded.
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