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