Photo: wgntv.com
The Nepal earthquake aftermath continues as the regions lay devastated. ”We are facing a tremendous crisis here and it is hard to even assess what the death toll and the extent of damage could be,” said Mohan Krishna Sapkota, a second tourism official. The trekkers and other campaigners are scattered all around the base camp and some had even trekked further up. Investigators and other rescuers find it difficult to rescue the trapped people, an officer said in his statement to the media.
Around 300,000 foreign tourists have been estimated to be in the country for the spring- trekking and the climbing season. Officials have been overwhelmed by the persistent calls from concerned kith and kin. However, major relief efforts in Nepal have been hampered owing to the sudden collapse in communication networks. The reported deaths have been mostly in the populous areas, but there have also been reports of havoc and mass destruction in other regions.
A UK-based company, which runs thoroughly guided and supportive mountaineering adventures in the Himalayan ranges, has stated that fortunately, none of its members have been killed or injured in avalanches that had been triggered by the earthquake in the neighboring nation.
A Nepalese home ministry official said 467 people had been killed alone in the Kathmandu Valley. The earthquake has caused shock and grief to the masses worldwide with the Deputy Prime Minister of the nation, Bamdev Gautam, appealing for international humanitarian aid. Heads of other nations, too, have expresses great concerns over the same. The death toll has now climbed to 758 people, across four countries. BBC is now putting the death toll at 970, with 539 of the victims in the Kathmandu Valley.
Sanjiwan Pradhan who witnessed the earthquake told Spectralhues that they left the building immediately after the tremours were heavily felt and that the people living in the vicinity were extremely terrified and panicked. There was a sense of horror and fear as the earthquake rattled Nepal, horribly damaging its capital city Kathmandu.
An Indian army mountaineering team has discovered around 18 corpses on Mount Everest, an army spokesman stated in his statement to the media, with the death toll on a steady rise. Also confirming that the avalanche had buried huge parts and people under it, two tents had been filled with casualties. Ministry officials estimated that at least 1,000 climbers, including about 400 foreigners, had been at base camp or on Everest when the quake occurred.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi has ordered an immediate dispatch of relief and medical teams to Nepal, and also called for the immediate evacuation of Indian tourists. Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has offered “all possible help” that the nation might require after the quake.
Ambulances alongwith immediate aid in terms of food and other necessities are being provided to the people. This has been regarded as one of the worst natural calamities happening in the Himalayan region in the last 80 years. Massive casualties have occurred with many houses and families being destroyed thoroughly and the routine lives of the citizens getting affected. Unicef UK Director has appealed to help those affected by the earthquake in Nepal as soon as possible.
Tags: Nepal Earthquake
