Embracing the World starts Relief Efforts for Nepal Disaster
A powerful earthquake shook Nepal on Saturday, April 25, 2015, near its capital, Katmandu, killing more than 1,900 people, flattening sections of the city’s historic center, and trapping dozens of sightseers in a 200-foot watchtower that came crashing down into a pile of bricks.
As officials in Nepal faced the devastation on Sunday morning, they said that most of the 1,931 deaths occurred in Katmandu and the surrounding valley, and that more than 4,700 people had been injured. But the quake touched a vast expanse of the subcontinent. It set off avalanches around Mount Everest, where at least 17 climbers died. At least 34 deaths occurred in northern India. Buildings swayed in Tibet and Bangladesh.
The earthquake was the worst to hit the South Asian nation in more than 80 years. It was strong enough to be felt all across parts of India, Bangladesh, China's region of Tibet and Pakistan. Nepal's worst recorded earthquake in 1934 measured 8.0 and all but destroyed the cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.
Amma has sent Br. Nijamrita from Embracing the World, India, to Katmandu to study the situation there. We just received the first report from Br. Nijamrita.
He says, "The destruction is massive and the situation is really bad. Gripped by fear of another quake, people have relinquished their homes and are living in the streets. Immediate requirements are warm clothes, food and water. Embracing the World, India has arranged to send 50 tons of wheat, 2000 sets of warm clothes and medicines to Katmandu. Our Amrita Hospital (AIMS in Kochi, India) telemedicine van, ambulances and a team of doctors and paramedics are ready to leave soon. However, NGO’s do not have a free hand to do relief activities without a local legal body to support. Hence we are in the process of establishing a tie-up with the UN relief team working there."