KATHMANDU, May 12: During the early days of the earthquake, when we were in shock over the devastation caused by this horrific event, there were a few people who were working tirelessly for our benefits. Whether it was the voice on the radio updating us on the latest happenings, that soothing touch of the medical personnel, or the strength that cleared away those rubbles, we are grateful to those numerous professionals who worked for us in this time of need.
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Republica spoke to just four of those many individuals who we are grateful to.
Hari Sharan Lamichhane,Senior News Editor, Radio Nepal
I had just finished my shift when the first earthquake hit. Since I was just two minutes away from the office, I rushed back immediately. Our office was pretty vulnerable, so I rushed to the other building. This building was constructed by the Japanese and is earthquake-resistant. When I reached there, I immediately took over. I think I was on air within five minutes of the earthquake. My priority was to inform the public of what happened, and since aftershocks were sure to come, make them aware. Initially, we didn't have much information but we started calling up our reporters and the concerned government officials.
According to the international media, the earthquake was of 7.9 Richter scale. So that's what I first relayed to the public. But later, when our Home Ministry said that it was 7.6, I broadcast that information, too. We aired updates as soon as we received them. Even as the strong aftershocks were coming in throughout the initial hours on Saturday, I wasn't worried because I believed that the building was seismic-proof.
Our technicians and reporters did an amazing job, supporting us at every turn. We took particular care to dispel the rumors; we had experts coming in and answering our queries; we gave out confirmed information in collaboration with the government. I believe we were also the ones to insist on Nepal Telecom providing free service at this hour of crisis. I was at work for 17 hours the first day and in the days that followed we all put in at least 10 to 12 hours each day.
Sanju Ghimire, Staff Nurse, Armed Police Force
Sub-Inspector
I felt I had double responsibility as a nurse and an army personnel. If we don't work, who will? I was on leave that Saturday but I went to work on Sunday morning. My parents were pretty nervous but they knew I had to do my duty, so all they told me was to be careful. I live in Thimi, Bhaktapur, and since no public vehicle was on the road, I had to ask for a lift, and walk for some way, and then again ask for a lift before I finally reached the Army Hospital at Chhauni.
We made emergency wards on the hospital grounds with three WHO tents where we began taking care of the injured. I think we saw more than a hundred patients the first day. There were many pregnant women and crying children. Our main concern was the earthquake victims instead of the usual patients. We were working according to the RYGB—Red for emergency cases like severe blood loss, Yellow for those who were not badly injured, Green for those who were relatively fine, and Black for people who had lost their lives.
I was working on assessing the injuries of the people who were coming in, and then referring them to the concerned doctors and for medicines. When the earthquake occurred the next day, I had gone inside the hospital to get some medical supplies and it made me pretty nervous. From Monday onwards, we were dispatched to different areas to help out. I've been in Sinamangal working in the medical camp set up by the Indian Army. These past two weeks, I've also been helping patients and doctors bridge the language barrier.
Asmita Aryal, Medical Officer
Five minutes after I had passed the road in Kaushaltar, it had cracked by the earthquake on April 25. So that was pretty scary. It was a precious day for me—the third Saturday when I finally get a leave from my duty in the hospital. I had thought of going for a trip to Sallaghari with my parents. Little did I know that it was not going to be that great of a weekend.
The following day at the hospital, it was hectic and heartbreaking. There were so many patients coming in and we didn't have enough space. We had to shift the ICU patients on the ground. And yet there were more patients coming in. They were equally traumatized, most of them refused to climb upstairs, fearing the building may collapse. Many patients also disappeared without notice; the nurses would search for them to provide their medicines but in vain. Our hospital was quite responsive to the needs of the patients. We provided free checkup, free operating services, and free medical supplies to the patients affected by the disaster.
Slowly, things settled down to some extent. Now at least, the crowd is a lot thinner and the numbers of patients is manageable. I also went on a health camp in Lele, Lalitpur, and there sawa tragic scene, too. Seeing all those houses reduced to rubbles and so many people die untimely deaths was depressing. But despite that, what was inspiring was the sense of unity and togetherness they had.
Ankit Khanal, Field Analyst, United Nations Resident
Coordinator's Office (UNRCO)
As a field analyst, my job is to coordinate with local administrators and understand the magnanimity of an issue. It's also our job in UNRCO to coordinate different international agencies so as to avoid duplication of work and deliver efficient results.
Therefore, when the big quake shook us all on that Saturday, I knew there would be a lot of coordinating to be done.
I started working right from the next day. Since UNRCO functions as a coordinator, many international agencies started coming in, and we immediately started to mobilize them to areas affected by the disaster.
I'm currently in Chautara, Sindhupalchowk, where we're operating our relief project. It's amazing to see all these international agencies working so efficiently for our country. Even locals are helping us in their own ways. That certainly is very inspiring; it makes me feel that we'll get back up soon.
Nonetheless, coordinating various teams is a challenging job. It's raining right now, and it's saddening to see people struggle with their tents in this weather. But we're working and trying to help. What could be more beautiful than helping people?
