25/04/15. The day when all the laughter and cheers of the Nepali people vanished. A 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit mostly all parts of Nepal. Heritage sites, houses, roads, everything has been destroyed by this sudden natural disaster. Approximately, 4000 people (and counting) has died in Nepal and more than 8000 people are in critical condition. I have been fortunate that I am alive to this day and am able to write about this situation that has occurred in my country, Nepal.
It is a devastating sight to see how the people are suffering from this sudden occurrence. I still remember how horrific and scared I felt when this earthquake happened 4 days ago. I was at my house alone, while my family were outside attending a school occasion. My parents had locked the gate from outside as I didn't even bother to come downstairs to close it. I planned to study for my finals but then I realised I had a project to finish so I started to work on it then. My family had already left by then and the house was peacefully silent for a few minutes, until... at around noon, the lights ran out. An unusual sound came right then and there and I thought it was the sound of the inverter so I stood up and walked right next to the door when all of a sudden the ground started shaking. It shook so fast and hard that I was out of balance and I fell down pretty bad, hurting my left arm. I couldn't process what was going on in my head, and I didm't know how to react to what was happening at that moment. I crawled towards my dressing table and hid underneath it. All I could think of was how my family was doing at that moment. I took my phone and called my dad, and fortunately the call worked and my mom picked up. Her voice cracked and I realised that she has been crying and I felt like everything is going to break down, literally. My mom told me that they are okay and that my dad was coming to get me. And then the call ended abruptly. I tried calling again but it failed. I didn't want my dad to come get me because it was really dangerous. I never felt that scared and terrified ever. I couldn't even get the courage to cry. The earthquake lasted for 50 seconds, but the tremors were still occurring. Suddenly I heard the doors getting unlocked and heard footsteps coming. I could already sense it was my dad and when I saw him, I ran towards him and hugged him. Then we came down, locked the doors and ran towards where my mom and grandmom were. When I saw my family, it would probably been the most relieved moment ever.
All the people were outside, while I was the only one inside the house. It was a devastating moment for everyone. But it didn't end there. The aftershocks. More horrific and unexpected occurrence. More than 90 aftershocks happened during the day when the massive earthquake occurred. It still continued till yesterday. The roads are cracked, the houses and buildings are destroyed and broken down into pieces. So many people has been trapped underneath and haven't been found by rescuers. It is a painful moment for all Nepalese out there.
Researchers has found that this earthquake is a historical reoccurrence, a pattern of earthquake that happens every 80 years and so. This 7.9 magnitude earthquake has occurred exactly 82 years after the 1934 earthquake in Nepal. A lot of people are raising funds and volunteering for the help, but what has our government has done for this? Nothing. So many people have come from different countries to help rescue people but the government and the police are making them go back. What kind of government does this kind of act towards the people when those people are going through so much? They corrupt all the money being sent to them from the raising funds. If the rescue team goes to the remote villages, the death toll would reach up to 10,000 people. I don't even know if I should feel fortunate that my family and I are safe so far or be angry to the fact that so many people are still trapped and in a state of life and death situation. People are living outside on the streets, in tents mostly but some don't even have that shelter. I feel hopeless. And Helpless. Can't even help when you are willing to. Nothing more than just complaining. Guilt is all I feel.
Here are some of the pictures of the earthquake in Nepal:
Bhimsen Tower or Dharahara - Then and Now
Image source: http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2015/04/27/1227323/047279-2a1456ea-ec7b-11e4-b2ab-57dfa37cc8ba.jpg
Temples in Bhaktapur - Then and Now
Image source: http://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/04/25/world/asia/nepal-landmarks-before-after-earthquake-1430011886105/nepal-landmarks-before-after-earthquake-1430011886105-videoSixteenByNine1050-v3.jpg
People Injured in Bhaktapur:
Image source: http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.2345585!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg
Basantapur Durbar Square - Now
Image source: http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article10206183.ece/alternates/w460/2Durbar-rex.jpg
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