This is the last Earthquake Competition entry. One thing of interest – the earthquake was reported internationally to have had a magnitude of 8.1 and yet, in Nepal it was reported as 7.9. I was told that the discrepancy is because if the earthquake was 8.0 or higher the Nepalese government is supposed to pay some sort of compensation to the earthquake victims. Consequently, the ‘official’ statement in Nepal is 7.9.
Feelings – By Dipesh Giri
I am a citizen of Nepal, the country suffering from the earthquake. The biggest and unforgettable earthquake that occurred in my lifetime happened on Baishakh 12, 2072, having a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale. I live in Kathmandu, which is highly affected from this earthquake. At the time when the earthquake occurred I was watching television. When I was about to go out to the verandah, the house started to shake hardily. I stayed on the verandah and came down when the house started to settle down. My mother forgot her sandals and got hurt as well. We got to a place near our house where we saw that a neighbor’s house was cracked and was about to break. Due to this reason we have had to stay a week outside our house at a petrol pump and a playground.
I was hoping that everything was normal again and stayed at my house. On 28 Baisakh 2072 and again on 29 Baishaks we had big quake. We were in our house for a long time when it was shaking. I am hoping that now it will be fine and I am looking forward to going back to school and my studies.
(We do not have a photo of Dipesh)