DEAD: THE DEATH TOLL HAS CROSSED 4,000
MARKS.
INJURED AND HOMELESS: The count is already nearing 7000. UNICEF is appealing urgent help
for 1 million children, so we can imagine the number of adults who have been
left homeless and are displaced in the tragedy.
HUMAN STORIES FROM NEPAL: The stories of survival - the heart-wrenching elements - people dying
there, people already dead and people dependent on them - people trapped there
- the need for rescue and relief operations - the need for reconnaissance
missions to locate them - the need to
extend the helping hands to them - prices skyrocketing - the racket of sale and
debt - stealing from them, robbing them
RELIEF AND RESCUE (R&R) OPERATIONS BY
INDIA
RELIEF AND RESCUE OPERATIONS BY THE WORLD
COMMUNITY
EXTENT OF DAMAGE: Almost 40% of Nepal is hit by the massive earthquake of Saturday. The
extent of destruction is widening its range every hour. Rescue teams are yet to reach many remote
towns and villages but they are covering areas now after Kathmandu and the
valley surrounding it. Some reports say the Gorkha district is hardest hit.
WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE IN NEPAL?
WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE IN
NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES - INDIA, CHINA, PAKISTAN, BHUTAN AND BANGLADESH?
WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE IN INDIA? Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have reported deaths. Bihar
is the worst hit. Bihar and West Bengal had another earthquake today to talk
about.
AFTERSHOCKS AND FURTHER QUAKES: 60 aftershocks and counting - earthquakes since Saturday - experts say
the aftershocks may continue for months and years
TRIBHUVAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/KATHMANDU
AIRPORT: Chaotic scenes there - people queuing up to go out
to their homes - the aid material there - how Nepal's only international
airport, which is relatively small in size, is coping up
EVACUATIONS: By airlifting or through roads. Nepal is a tourist designation with Mount
Everest, the highest peak of the Earth' on its soil. Kathmandu was a colourful
destination for tourists from across the world. Many other sites, now badly
damaged in this quake, are favourites of tourists. For Indians, Nepal is a
Hindu majority nation and has many sacred temples of Hinduism including the
Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.
TRAVEL ADVISORIES: By countries - USA, UK and Australia have already issued - more to
follow the suit
IMPACT ON TOURISM: Reports say it is the season of maximum footfalls. And the tragedy has
hit it now, affecting it, decimating all hopes, not just in Nepal, an impoverished
nation where tourism is one of the major elements of economy, but in other
affected regions of Himalaya as well.
©/IPR: Santosh Chaubey - http://severallyalone.blogspot.com/
