NMI’s Nepalese worried about families

Nepalese citizens in the CNMI are anxious for their families and countrymen back home following a massive 7.8 earthquake that hit the Himalayan nation last Saturday and a death toll that has now reached more that 3,000.

Three days after the temblor struck, members of the Nepalese community on the island are still having trouble contacting their loved ones in Nepal.

The few who managed to do so, however, are no longer in pins and needles after confirming with other relatives in the U.S. that their families are safe and okay.

Sablan Topline employee Budhi Gurung said he freaked out when he saw the breaking news about the Nepal earthquake on CNN, and tried to call his wife and youngest daughter who both live in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

“I recall that I did experience a similar earthquake in Kathmandu back in 1988 and it was early in the morning. We were all sleeping and felt the earthquake because it was so strong. I knew the feeling and how big of an impact it is so I tried to called my wife and youngest daughter if they were OK,” Gurung said.

At first, he couldn’t get a hold of his family but later found out that they’re okay and are taking temporary shelter at a school compound.

His two older daughters, who both live in the U.S., were the ones who informed him that their mother and youngest sister were safe.

Gurung hasn’t had any luck contacting other relatives and friends and is still trying to find out what happened to them. He said he is worried about their fate since the number of deaths from the earthquake is rising each day.

Mahesh Thapa, owner of Java Joe’s, and his wife, Manju Pambey, are also worried but are in constant contact with family members in Nepal, which number around 40.

Thapa said their family members contacted them last Saturday around 5:30pm informing them that they were OK.

“So far all of them are OK, but they cannot sleep at the house. The government said that it is not safe because of the cracks inside the house,” he said.

Thapa said his family is camping near their damaged home, only cooking in the house and immediately vacating it. They are now living in a tent until the government clears the area and deems it safe.

“Other people trying to reach the heart of the city, the area hit hardest, cannot get in contact with their family. Every hour we are getting in touch with our families in Nepal and everything is still fine for now,” Thapa said.

Thapa says his family is about 10 miles from Kathmandu and that his wife’s family lives in Kathmandu itself. Their latest update is that the American Red Cross is helping their families and that, as far as he knows, his family has already received food and water.

Kumar Panbey has tried contacting his family in Nepal but so far couldn’t. His wife, who is living in the U.S. with their kids, contacted Panbey informing him that his mother, father, and brothers are all fine.

“We are not there to help, but it is still hard and we can’t do anything and at least send money,” Panbey said.

Thapa said they are coordinating with the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter to try to raise or receive donations for the Nepalese community on Saipan.

Gov. Eloy S. Inos, meanwhile, is urging the community to provide any assistance they can extend to Nepalese citizens whose families were hard-hit in their homeland.

“Friends, the devastating earthquake in Nepal reached across borders. Preliminary reports indicate deaths in India, China, Bangladesh, Tibet, with Nepal suffering the most. As you know, we have members of our community who are from Nepal and the neighboring countries affected by this earthquake. Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and I ask that we keep them in our prayers and offer any assistance we can,” Inos said in a posting on his Facebook page.