Earthquake in Nepal: 3 days of terror without internet and electricity : A personal account

The April 25th 2015 was an experience that would always stay in the back of my mind forever. It not only gave me a new perspective regarding importance of pity things but it gave me a new definition of why we should not have big building in our country and why we need free internet and services at times of emergency.

Early morning the day started as usual, it was Saturday so the weekends are like very crazy and out of routine. We got up late and processed the daily chores. Around at 10:50 we had our meal and as we were schedule to go outside. I went up to the terrace just for a view and that was my lifetime experience, the devastating earthquake started and it just prolonged. I witnessed the 7.8 rector scale earthquake on the 3rd floor of my house in the open sky. As soon as it started it shook the ground up and down and the feeling was scary. I started shouting but in back of my mind thinking people would get me wrong, I could not stop myself. I saw people running in the nearby open space. I hurriedly made it to the second floor as my wife was there and together we made it to the lower floor. We were careful enough to hold on to the safety of the corridor as it was pretty shaky and bumpy.

My mother and father both were at the ground floor. My mother told us that she fell down and she could not stand up similarly my father also expressed the same feeling that he could not walk.

In seconds, we made it to the ground floor and we accompanied them outside to the open ground.

The earthquake was truly phenomenal as it went up and down first and then it shifted to and fro so the combination of the earthquake was like a cocktail that gave a mild hangover of a lifetime.

After coming down we all gathered in the open space in front of my house. A lot of people were shouting and were in a state of panic. Somebody said the corner building is down, so my brother and me we made it to the place. The building was completely down and overlapping each other. We preliminary scanned the place accessed the damaged. We tried to see for any sort of movement but we could not find anything.

The situation was so traumatic that 3 buildings on the edge of a petite street had collapsed leaving no room for support. Within in seconds, we were joined by few more people and we rescued few from the place. The earth started wobbling we ran back with the people making it safe to the open ground. The situation was stressful as more than 200 people had gathered there. To add fury they were in a chaos I knew that it’s easy to handle a crowd while they are listening but managing a crowd in chaos is very tough. I tried my level best to calm them and give space for women, children and old age people. My objective then and there was to settle them. People were petrified as the earth was shaking and six story building in-front was shaking like crazy.

Now I had realized that living in a community if you do not speak at the right time then it would hamper at times of need. As we ignore the fact that there was a six story building built in-front of the open space that too illegally. We all ignored it and today it was one of the major risk for the lives of the people.

It seemed as if the ground was shaking continuously. I shouted on top of my voice garbing their attentions. "Clam down its over ". Though I was scared inside but I had to shout as there was no option.

As soon as the tremors were over we again made it back to the spot few police personnel and other volunteers were there they were trying their best to find and rescue people inside.

They said the roads were blocked from all sides and it would take time for the rescue team and volunteers to reach the spot. So we decided to help them in every possible way.

The spot was vulnerable and very tight so only few people marched in.  The risk of debris was pretty scary as 3 building had collapsed side wise on top of each other.

The police personnel and volunteer rescued 2 more people and we were told 2 more people were stranded in the rubble. We made it back to the open ground and asked the people to help few more stepped in. Then again we made it back to the site. I could not step in physically to help as my clavicle bone is fracture so I could lift weight so I knew that at times of crisis you have to be resourceful and you need to act smart. Looking at the situation I felt we the volunteer and police personal needed mask as the house debris and dust had fogged the place.

Since it was a time to act, so I again made it back to the open ground and asked the people to help. People openly handed over their scarfs and I collected them and gave it back to the volunteers and rescue worker.

In minutes we got the news that we were hit by a massive 7.8 rector scale earthquake, people further panicked. With the help of few people, we tried to calm the crowd as every few seconds the aftershock were giving a jolt punch and people were losing their control.

Some were calling their families and some were trying to search their family members, the open space was pretty pact with people and the situation was a chaos.  Due to the large number of people trying to get to the network the telecom services were down, even the emergency numbers were unreachable.

Few of them logged on to internet with 3G service which was amazingly active. We got to know that the nation was hugely struck by the earthquake and the coming 48 hours were very crucial.

The aftershock occurred frequently and people were started getting adjusted, after 2 hours a group of policemen came in for rescue. They tried their best but could not go inside.

The trapped old lady and girl situation was unknown. As the family members went in they said they could hear a tapping sound. Everybody in the ground started praying.

 Few more groups joined the army rescue team and the armed police force group but nothing could be done. Amazing thing was they were not even prepared they had no tools and they were just forced into the operation. Most of them waited in the open ground as if they had the responsibility of being their but when it came to action nobody dared to make their hands dirty.  

As the dusk fall the team was joined by a local Chinese man who said he had worked in the Chinese military and was involved with such operation. Immediately he went inside and made a hole. The Chinese man was later accompanied by few more friends. He assured the victim’s family that they would do everything possible to bring back his mother and daughter.

 More groups joined in but most of them stared and few of the groups just barged in, one of such group was the search and rescue team of ward no 17. I really do not know what they did and why they were their but they just sat there and helplessly watched.

One thing good about them was they had the basic equipment and the team was using it for the rescue operation.

Similarly another team of National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET) made it to the ground zero with equipment but after 2 hours they returned reasoning nothing could be done.

Later around at 10 PM the Chinese came out and said he had to go back and come back tomorrow with more equipment and people. The victim’s father and family members pleaded with every group but they were turned down.

Most of the group reasoned the place was difficult and it was impossible to do the rescue operation except for the Chinese guy who went in and at least tried.

The devastated family had no option except to wait endlessly for tomorrow hoping it would bring better opportunity.      

During the night few more groups visited the site and left there was only assurances and hope of the girl and the lady being alive. We desperately waited and watched hooping there would be a good news but every time we all had to face the harsh reality.  

Most of the public gather slept outside in the open space, few of them managed tarpaulin and most were bound to sleep in the open sky. We just prayed please god NO RAIN today.

We were awake till 3 AM as the aftershocks were continuously jolting the ground. People were still coping up to the situation and every time there was an aftershock they would leave everything and gather in groups. It was merely a nightmare that prolonged on and on.

The second day started with rumors that a more powerful earthquake was coming up and everybody was scared and was in midst of what next?

Apparently with the whole trauma of the first day, we were somewhat prepared than the first day. The morning buzzed with destruction news that was on. All the UNESCO heritage sites are affected, our culture and tradition everything Nepal was famous for was down to rubble. To the other side of the story local thugs and thieves were getting very active and it was advised to be careful about your property and belongings.

By this time all of our phones were nearly dead we were just looking for a place to charge, as turn by turn people were flocked to available place soon in hours it ran out of electricity.

Phone calls started ringing and family members abroad were panicked and the situation further tensed. As it’s said the death doesn't kills you with no reason but the fear of death kills you with no reason. People acted like headless chicken. Now we had a time frame of 72 hrs. where the possibility of living was completely impossible.

Few more groups came excavated the scene but none dared to enter inside by 10 AM the Chinese group came with more supports and load jacks. Now we thought may be things could go right and lady and girl could be rescued. To our bad luck it rained and we just prayed things would just be right. The Chinese team worked their way and despite the rain they continued their efforts.

In the late afternoon they returned saying there were other places they had to go. Nothing was done everybody desperately waiting.

The 3rd day started with high hopes, the earthquake aftershock frequencies were relatively low and new aspiration were on. In the late afternoon the Chinese team recovered the death body of the old woman and they left the scene. They made it clear that there were no survivors and the knocking sound was made by the dead body. The expert also explain that during time of disaster the body goes into shock and at such times the body release the energy in variable action that keeps working still after hours of death.

In the evening a Dutch team returned with sniff dogs but the dogs could not trace anything and it was confirmed no survivors


On the 4th day the Armed police force recovered the body of the girl

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Nepal Government lacks management in Earthquake rescue Operation

It is quite obvious what level of damage has been caused by the April 25th earthquake. In view of the humanitarian crisis  a lot of funds and relief materials have been send to the country. But with limited human resources and loads of materials things doesn't look normal. The government seems to be rigid in managing the resources in terms of its  operation and logistic.

The crisis situation has further obliterated the situation creating an overall situation of miscommunication and confusion where the current human resource and resources are getting wasted.

Though rescue and relief operation are going on but they are more focused to limited areas where in most people are still waiting for the rescue operation and relief materials in other parts of the country.

How valid is it for the government just to focus on major areas only ?
Likewise, in most of the case around the valley there are more people who are waiting for rescue and relief operation.

With high concern there seems to be a lack of vision and leadership in terms of management  and communication. crisis situation itself is a confusion where if resources are not manged proper it further distress the situation.

Similarly the lack of monitoring is clearly visible where the prices of food and water are drastically shooting up. There is no control over the market where public have been protesting against the black market.

Even public representative are not surfacing the public in view of escaping the lack of management and operation which on contrary has created a situation of mistrust and disbelief towards the political fraternity.

Reality of today is the public selected the political leaders to power for management of proper system and social welfare  but in view  of their selfish motives they ignore the social welfare in prioritizing corruption, power play, favoritism etc.

The political culture of Nepal is hugely responsible for the current destruction and suffering where they cannot escape their responsibility.      


Current problems
1. There is no decentralization of handling the rescue operation and materials
2. Rescue operation and relief are just focused on priority
3. There is no communication in terms of relief distributions
4. The volunteers and security personnel are not given enough food and fluids
5. The command centers are proving to be less effective due to lack of communication
6. Favoritism and politics lobbying are high on use
7. Lack expertise and experience has slowed the rescue operation
8. Lack of local resources
9. Limited and orthodox mentality

So what did we lacked ?
we are seriously lacking a proper leadership and vision. The government has set up control center but it is slow and lacks monitoring. Moreover centralized system of monitoring resources has made the system weak and vulnerable where the political leaders are manipulating the situation.at this moment of crisis we need to maintain a system that is clear and transparent but here it is completely opposite. Apart from the crisis demands stable action with strategic planning where our GON is forwarding random action with no solution.  

Solution 
The best solution for any crisis management situation is a stable system that works independently with strategic management of resources and operation. The GON needs to establish proper resources centers  with decentralized responsible persons in terms of  management and operation who are individually responsible for their areas and resources pulling it to a proper network of communication and cooperation.

The crisis situation demands use of human resource but making people work with no food is not a motivation but a demotivating factor, so there should be a proper mechanism that should counter such problems.

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Loktantra or loot-tantra, choice is yours

From the past nine years, we have been celebrating the Loktantra as a holiday to be added in the long list. But on real grounds it is a  day that marks the death of thousands of innocent people who sacrificed their lives in the name politics and country.

Though many people lost their lives in the name of it but on practical grounds there is much to what we have achieved.  Only few selected groups of people have benefited.

The major achievement of the 2006 democratic movement were
1. Constituent Assembly
2. Secularism
3. Dethronement of kingship
4. Peace process

If you talk about all these  aspect then all of them have failed in majors aspect of performing their objective in terms of public welfare.

The Constituent Assembly has failed time and again  to give the country a new constitution. The 601 Constituent Assembly members have become a burden with their high wages and their shameful acts of corruption  and power politics where time and again they have failed and portrait their image of bad politics and selfish mentality. It has disgraced the political culture of Nepal dooming the future of politics of Nepal.

Apart from that the country has moved towards the path of secularism but on one hand it may seem to have given the unheard voices a new platform but on the other it has discriminated the majority in presences of giving equal rights to the opposing groups. In country which has 80% of a ruling population of hindus how can you certainly find solution in giving voice to 20% by discriminating the 80%. Equality means giving right to all and giving voice to all, it doesn't mean giving voice to the 20% and shadowing the 80%.

Similarly, dethroning the kingship in Nepal might have been an achievement. But it also made  possible for establishment of more than 100 kings who misuse and abuse the power daily in the name security and power.

Now talking about the peace process, it seems the country is moving towards a solution but in reality we are moving backward where due to the long lasting violence people have started to migrate which has resulted in brain drain. In a country where its major work forces is draining outside the country there is very limited scope of development and progress. The peace process of Nepal has stalled the economic and social development of the country in the name of reservation and cooperation. Likewise, still today people are terrorized and their properties have not been returned and people are bound to  live with the terror.    


So the crux is Nepal lacks leadership in terms of politics and vision which has landed the country in this current position of political chaos. For better solution we need strong political leaders who are nationalist than political puppets ................... 

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Bagmati Clean up campaign and its Facebook Stigma

Recently the Bagmati Clean-up Campaign celebrated its 100th week on Saturday. Following the  occasion a human chain was formed along the riverbanks, from its origin at Bagdwar to its outlet at Chobhar covering 28 KM.

The program was launched in 2013, by the Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal, but it grew a-lot of attention when various social media and mobile technology was used to market about the campaign.

On one hand the campaign has been highly appreciated for its continuous operation and social values
where as on the other hand the campaign has also been criticized for its short term solution and facebook gimmick.

People have been arguing the major objective of the campaign, to be just awareness  or something else. As Bagmati flows from the center of the capital and works as one of the major sewage channel, it has transformed itself to a lousy tradition of nasty smell and impurities.

On the 100th week thousands of people turn out to participated in the campaign but most of them were seen posting pictures on social media. The campaign was highly appreciated in social media  where people bombarded their walls with selfies and other pictures.
It seemed as if people were happy to be part of a campaign just for the sake of taking pictures. As everyone coming there knew what was happening and how Bagmati was getting dirty. The major concern was about what to do next or what could be done to stop the pollution.

I think Bagmati is suffering a tragic ignorance of concerned department which can be solved by proper systematic urbanization planning. A simple solution is a sewage  treatment plant which can treat the dirty sewage water and further filter the sewage from the river.

Bagmati cleanup campaign is certainly a credible move in terms of practice and operation but when it comes to practice  things have not changed. It seems that we Nepalese are more happy with certain limitation of change. We are so discouraged by the system and  political leaders that we  need some level of assurance and we just blindly follow anything and everything.

Reality of today is things have not changed in bagmati, the river still stinks and sewerage still flows.
so what' s the use? and  what is the motive?

I think we all know how the Bagmati is getting dirty or how our sewage that flows from our hosuehold is making it dirty?

So what is the solution ?


Just by spreading the awareness is not enough  we need concrete action followed by commitment and cooperation from all side.

Stop being so vulnerable  and let's do some action in regards to save our tradition of Bagmati.

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Discover Thailand 2015

Thailand is an amazing country with high and rich colors of tradition and ethnicity. This country is beautiful because of its food, colors and people. The smiling faces and the richness of the hospitality of the Thai people is simple overwhelming.

The street food culture is simply amazing that takes your taste buds away giving you a wide variety of gastronomical wonders from sea food to the local cuisines. If you are a travelers you will find the beaches of Pattaya and Ko Samat in the blissful picturesque time frame. you just need time and give yourself time to loosen up.

Thailand simply bring out the adventure in you that is more of a pleasing and soothing experience just follow your heart.

It how you can imagine and see Thailand, its a perfect tourist destination that has everything .

Local transport and infrastructure are amazing just need to know the know how and you will be running here and there. Try to use the BTS and subways which are more feasible and less costly amazingly you will find yourself being native standing out next to local people who always try to help despite the language barriers.

Just spend your time understanding the way it work and you will find yourself wondering.

Its a great country for shopper especially clothes and  Pratunam is famous for its easy accessible shopping centers that are more lucrative in ways of shopaholic.

The rich tradition of the kingship to the local infrastructure every things works in coordination where helpful people and smiling face greets you most of the times.

Just be-careful of TUK TUK riders and specially fake duplicate electronic goods especially at Indra square. Even I was robbed once of more than 21000 Bhatt in a unpleasing deal. So try staying away from sweet talking people that offer you great electronic deals.

One thing that really triggered me was the level of empowerment, when you look at the local buses you will see all drivers are men and all conductors are women. It works the way out trying to make the system work in balance.

The only bad thing about Thailand is the tropical humid climate that drains you off your energy but you just need to recharge yourself with plentiful water and juices.

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After 3/3 TIA still is mismanaged and chaotic

After the Turkish Airlines flight TK 726 crash-landed on Nepal's runway in dense fog on 3rd march 2015 things have not changed at Tribhuvan International Airport(TIA). There is what so ever nothing being done at the international terminal and its operation. In fact things have gone out of control resulting congestion  during its operation in the terminals.

There is no management and most of the times people seems to be lost with lack of announcements and coordination. People are seen running around like headless chickens. The announcement are very slow  and   due to lack of proper sitting arrangement people were seen sitting on the floor. There is no person responsible to handle the situation. Most of the times people are  shouted and shown a rude attitude.

The government of Nepal or Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal(CAAN) should seriously look into this as it certainly matter for the tourism industry. Nepal has been trying to establish itself as a tourism service and with such customer service at international terminal there are more chances of it doing bad publicity. 

  

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