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The Nepal quake: All it took was 20 seconds

Survivors spoke to Al Jazeera about their harrowing experience when a deadly 7.8 magnitude quake shook Nepal’s ground.

Krina Bhakta, 86, Bhaktapur: 'This was the second earthquake that I witnessed but this destroyed my house. My house at the moment looks like me. I look fine from outside, but I am devastated inside. The same thing has happened to my house. The outer walls are intact but inside everything is destroyed. I can't enter it and I have lost everything in the earthquake. I won't be able to get back what I have earned and built. At this age, I don't think I will be able to build a new house or even get back what the quake took away' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Krina Bhakta, 86, Bhaktapur: 'This was the second earthquake that I witnessed but this destroyed my house. My house at the moment looks like me. I look fine from outside, but I am devastated inside. The same thing has happened to my house. The outer walls are intact but inside everything is destroyed. I can't enter it and I have lost everything in the earthquake. I won't be able to get back what I have earned and built. At this age, I don't think I will be able to build a new house or even get back what the quake took away' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
By Showkat Shafi
7 May 2015

All it took was 20 seconds to create havoc and bring about enormous devastation of life and property, as Nepal was struck by the worst earthquake in 80 years.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the impoverished Himalayan country left thousands dead in its wake and caused massive destruction to heritage buildings and residential homes as they were turned into rubble.

More than 7,000 people died, hundreds are missing and 14,000 people are being treated for injuries suffered in the tragedy. According to reports by the United Nations, the earthquake has affected 8.1 million people. 

Survivors of the quake spoke to Al Jazeera about their harrowing experience.

Vishnu Prasad Prajapati, 63, potter, Bhaktapur: 'I was making earthenware like any other regular day. I felt someone push me from behind suddenly, but I heard cries outside and I ran out of the house. Within seconds my house had collapsed in front of me. I stood there watching it turn into rubble helplessly. It has been nearly two weeks to the horrific incident and I haven't slept properly since that day. I still get nightmares.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Vishnu Prasad Prajapati, 63, potter, Bhaktapur: 'I was making earthenware like any other regular day. I felt someone push me from behind suddenly, but I heard cries outside and I ran out of the house. Within seconds my house had collapsed in front of me. I stood there watching it turn into rubble helplessly. It has been nearly two weeks to the horrific incident and I haven't slept properly since that day. I still get nightmares.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
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Suresh Pradhan, 36, Bhaktapur: 'We all ran out of the house when the earthquake struck. However my uncle and aunt due to their old age could not manage to do so. Our house collapsed and we tried to rescue both of them. My aunt survived and sustained injuries but my uncle perished. Loss of property can still be taken care of but we lost a member of a family.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Suresh Pradhan, 36, Bhaktapur: 'We all ran out of the house when the earthquake struck. However my uncle and aunt due to their old age could not manage to do so. Our house collapsed and we tried to rescue both of them. My aunt survived and sustained injuries but my uncle perished. Loss of property can still be taken care of but we lost a member of a family.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Tulsi Das Karmacharya, 90, town of Balaju: 'This building was my home for the past 72 years. Decades of hard work was destroyed in a few seconds. This is my worst nightmare, to see my house in this state. I am worried for my children and grand children as I don't know how they will build another one. My last days were not supposed to be like this.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Tulsi Das Karmacharya, 90, town of Balaju: 'This building was my home for the past 72 years. Decades of hard work was destroyed in a few seconds. This is my worst nightmare, to see my house in this state. I am worried for my children and grand children as I don't know how they will build another one. My last days were not supposed to be like this.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Kachi Karmachari, 83, town of Balaju: 'Life in a rescue camp is tough. We are four families sharing one tent, for the past 10 days. I have forgotten what privacy is all about. There are six women in this tent and I am the oldest one. I don't sleep during the night, as I have to take care of my belongings and also my family members. I just hope that all this ends one day and I will wake up from a very bad dream.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Kachi Karmachari, 83, town of Balaju: 'Life in a rescue camp is tough. We are four families sharing one tent, for the past 10 days. I have forgotten what privacy is all about. There are six women in this tent and I am the oldest one. I don't sleep during the night, as I have to take care of my belongings and also my family members. I just hope that all this ends one day and I will wake up from a very bad dream.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Ritu Shrestha, 11, town of Balaju: 'My books are my best friends, and I have lost them. They are buried under the rubble somewhere. I know my parents will buy me new books but this will remain with me forever' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Ritu Shrestha, 11, town of Balaju: 'My books are my best friends, and I have lost them. They are buried under the rubble somewhere. I know my parents will buy me new books but this will remain with me forever' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Ashu Shrestha, 14, town of Balaju: 'I lost all the books I had and now I don't know what will happen in school. All my class notes and home work is gone. I haven't heard from my friends and I dread what if I won't meet them ever. I just hope they are safe. I still get nightmares and I can feel the earth shaking beneath me.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Ashu Shrestha, 14, town of Balaju: 'I lost all the books I had and now I don't know what will happen in school. All my class notes and home work is gone. I haven't heard from my friends and I dread what if I won't meet them ever. I just hope they are safe. I still get nightmares and I can feel the earth shaking beneath me.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
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Pun Thapa Magar 38, town of Balaju: 'People call me Spiderman these days, as I help others affected by the earthquake by going inside houses that are cracked or damaged and people are scared to enter such houses. My own house was destroyed in this disaster. But the only thing that keeps me strong is the presence of my family that is safe, thankfully. I know many who have lost their loved ones.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Pun Thapa Magar 38, town of Balaju: 'People call me Spiderman these days, as I help others affected by the earthquake by going inside houses that are cracked or damaged and people are scared to enter such houses. My own house was destroyed in this disaster. But the only thing that keeps me strong is the presence of my family that is safe, thankfully. I know many who have lost their loved ones.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Sitaram Vishnu, 90 , from Ram Mandir, Bhaktapur: 'I am the priest of the Hindu temple that was partially destroyed by the earthquake. This is all nature's fury and way of getting even with us. It is just a warning from Mother Nature that is asking us to not play with the environment and exploit it like this.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Sitaram Vishnu, 90 , from Ram Mandir, Bhaktapur: 'I am the priest of the Hindu temple that was partially destroyed by the earthquake. This is all nature's fury and way of getting even with us. It is just a warning from Mother Nature that is asking us to not play with the environment and exploit it like this.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Rina Shrestha, 23, Bhaktapur Durbar square: 'I was in the house located behind the pharmacy when the earthquake struck. I sustained injuries as a brick fell on my leg. I got treated at the emergency hospital and then came back to open the pharmacy as it is the only one in the locality. I have started treating people with minor injuries over here as the hospitals are overcrowded.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Rina Shrestha, 23, Bhaktapur Durbar square: 'I was in the house located behind the pharmacy when the earthquake struck. I sustained injuries as a brick fell on my leg. I got treated at the emergency hospital and then came back to open the pharmacy as it is the only one in the locality. I have started treating people with minor injuries over here as the hospitals are overcrowded.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Shree Sharan Shrestha, 49, Bhaktapur Durbar square: 'This used to be my old house and we had shifted to a new one, 10 days back. I am glad that we shifted, though it is heartbreaking to see the condition of other houses which are completely destroyed.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Shree Sharan Shrestha, 49, Bhaktapur Durbar square: 'This used to be my old house and we had shifted to a new one, 10 days back. I am glad that we shifted, though it is heartbreaking to see the condition of other houses which are completely destroyed.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Lila Niroula, 34, BIR hospital National Trauma Centre in Kathmandu: 'The earthquake came on Saturday, which was a holiday. I had to report to work due to this and when I reached the hospital, I was shocked. I have never seen such devastation in my life. Thousands of people and journalists had queued in the hospital. I froze for the first few minutes and did not know how to deal with all of this. It was something out of a movie. It was only after 10 minutes that I slowly started working and helping in treating those who needed immediate help.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Lila Niroula, 34, BIR hospital National Trauma Centre in Kathmandu: 'The earthquake came on Saturday, which was a holiday. I had to report to work due to this and when I reached the hospital, I was shocked. I have never seen such devastation in my life. Thousands of people and journalists had queued in the hospital. I froze for the first few minutes and did not know how to deal with all of this. It was something out of a movie. It was only after 10 minutes that I slowly started working and helping in treating those who needed immediate help.' [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
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