Nepal Quake: Four People From UK Killed

The deadly earthquake in Nepal has claimed the lives of four people from U.K.’s Nepali community. Three of them are reportedly from Swindon. According to one of the victims' brother, former Gurkha Kashi Rai, all the three had indefinite leave to live in the U.K.

According to Rai, his brother who is also an ex-Gurkha, had visited the Himalayan state a couple of weeks ago with his wife Mina. They had gone there to meet relatives. A church in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu had crumpled during the time the earthquake hit the country. They both died while writhing under the collapse.

Among them whom the lethal disaster killed, was Elia Ghale, a former Gurkha and had left Swindon about a year back to establish a church in Nepal. Ghale's son, who had accompanied his father was also dead. They both were killed under the impact of another church’s falling into smithereens on account of the deadly catastrophe.

St. John’s church was the venue for prayers for all four of them and devotees there held a candle light vigil for the four while remembering them.

Meanwhile, BBC reports say that relief and rescue workers saved eight Britons a week after the calamity struck the unfortunate country. They were stranded in a Nepalese monastery when they were rescued. A chartered chopper carrying a UK team of experts airlifted them from a religious retreat in a remotely located hillside area of the earthquake-struck nation. Not only them, but also another seven of British citizens were airlifted by another aircraft. Also, a British mountaineer, by the name of Gareth Doulas also captured by the devastating earthquake managed to return back home. He hails from Shropshire and was on an expedition to Mount Everest, which never happened.

But British dual national Hemchandra Rai who lived in Hong Kong, was not fortunate and the deadly catastrophe claimed his life. There are also reports pouring in of another British victim killed at Mount Everest base camp. But they are still being probed.

At least 7,000 people are reported killed in the 7.8-magnitude quake which hit the himalyan state on 25th April. The toll may go upto 10,000.

The writer can be contacted at ritambanati@yahoo.com