-- Death toll in Nepal is nearing 6,500
while there are around 15000 injured. We can assess so given the confirmed
official figures for dead and injured are 6,250 and 14,357 respectively. Like
earlier said, it does not include many in remote towns and villages where aid
is either trickling down or has not reached at all.
-- The final figures, which will take
time, are expected to be in many thousands and much larger than what we are
talking now. In 1934 earthquake in Nepal-Bihar, from which Nepal learnt no
lessons, there were very few people in the valley around Kathmandu, and even in
Kathmandu. Then, Nepal did not have a global tourist attraction in the form of
Mount Everest and the regions around it for trekking and climbing. That has
changed in 2015. Kathmandu, along with its valley is an unorganized mess of
people and constructions.
-- Mount Everest and nearby areas around
it are expected to be opened next week for climbing and trekking. China has
closed the northern way up for this climbing season. Let’s see if the climbers
return. If that happens, that would be a precious source of earning for Nepal in
these circumstances.
-- So far, around 19 bodies of climbers
and sherpas have been recovered. Many have been rescued from Mount Everest
area. Scores are still missing.
-- The United Nations said just US$ 53
million out of its appealed US$ 415 million were collected till Friday. It is
worrisome. Though Nepal is said to getting overwhelming international support
with India leading the search, rescue and relief missions, the world needs to
do more for this impoverished nation that has seen a prolonged monarchy and a
protracted Maoist struggle. The democratic Nepal was just beginning is to take
steps when the devastating earthquake happened.
-- According to the UN estimates, around
3 million immediately need food and water. Overall, around 8 million people are
affected. Some 70,000 houses are gone and around 600,000 have suffered
extensive damage.
-- According to its official estimates,
that is preliminary in nature and is bound to go up, Nepal needs US$ 2 billion
for rehabilitation and reconstruction work. The extent of damage goes up to US$
10 billion according to the US Geological Survey, around half of Nepal’s annual
GDP.
-- It has to be an extensive process,
spread over the years, and much depends on how Nepal mobilizes the
international support and how it exploits the internal rescores available in
the years to come.
-- At the time of the 7.8 earthquake on
April 24, some 300,000 foreign tourists including Indians were in Nepal. Many
have been evacuated. Many are waiting. Many are still missing. The European
Union said today that around 1000 Europeans are still missing in Nepal.
-- India has so far evacuated around
15000 through air and road-routes via Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand. It
has helped other countries as well, evacuating nationals of some 14 countries
and issuing them free visa.
-- India cleared today it was there in
Nepal with its full force but was acting secondary to Nepal. Nepal was leading the
rescue and relief operations. India is
helping Nepal as a big, watchful brother with its disaster experts and relief
personnel, even if it rains.
-- India’s Foreign Secretary S.
Jaishankar and its National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were in Nepal today.
They took stock of the situation about R&R operations. They also made an aerial
survey of the most damaged area.
-- Nepal has its granaries full, as its
minster says. But there are no people to take trucks to remote towns and
villages. They have gone back to help their families in this disaster and the
government is facing a cumbersome task. There are protests and clashes on delay
of R&R operations in areas where aid is not reaching.
-- Most of the people staying outside
continue to do so. Kathmandu looks like a refugee camps these days. And it is
expected to be so till the Monsoon rains arrive. People are expected to persist
even in that. Morgues are full and the government has ordered immediate
cremation of bodies. Affected regions look like ghost towns with relief material
where only airdropping is possible and with personnel and relief material where
people can reach anyhow.
-- Updates on India’s efforts so far –taken
from a TOI report - “Indian agencies have
launched “Operation Maitri”, under which india is providing 280 tonnes of
relief materials, including clean drinking water, milk, biscuits, noodles,
essential medicines, tents, blankets, tarpaulin and plastic sheets. In
addition, two field hospitals, 18 army medical teams, 18 engineering teams, one
IAF rapid action medical team, and excavator and earth moving equipment have
been flown into Kathmandu and Pokhara in 28 sorties by C-17 Globe Master, IL-76
and C-130 aircraft. Indian states bordering Nepal have extended assistance in
rescue and relief efforts through the land route. Sixteen NDRF teams are
working with the Nepalese security agencies and have saved 11 lives and
retrieved 121 bodies from various places in Kathmandu, the Unesco World
Heritage Sites of Patan, Bhaktapur and Swayambhu and historic Dharahara
tower. Three army medical teams have
been deployed at Barpak village, the epicentre of the earthquake in the Gorkha
district of Nepal. A 39-member Indian Army team currently at the Everest Base
Camp has voluntarily remained there to assist people, including stranded
tourists and climbers. Indian helicopters have delivered 100 tonnes of relief
material in various districts of Nepal, including Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot,
Sindhupalchowk, Rasuwa and Ramechhap. A team from Power Grid Corporation of
India is jointly working with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in restoring
power supplies in different parts of Nepal. They have jointly restored three
sub-power stations in the Kathmandu Valley and are working to restore more.”
Related post:
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE: UPDATES SO FAR – ON
APRIL 30
http://severallyalone.blogspot.in/2015/04/nepal-earthquake-updates-so-far-on_30.html