Kathmandu: Survivors of the devastating earthquake in Nepal that killed over 2,000 people had horrific tales of the nature's fury that reduced houses, temples and historical monuments to rubble as they struggled for basic necessities of shelter, food and sanitation.
Thousands of people were displaced as the powerful 7.9- magnitude temblor jolted the Himalayan nation, with roads developing huge cracks and flattening old buildings, forcing them to spend the night under the open sky in chilly weather.
Although the aftershocks remained milder, the people could not sleep. A large number of Indians, including many workers who visit the neighbouring country, said they were faced with basic problems like food and sanitation.
"We are very shocked to see what happened here yesterday. It was very sad... My whole family is suffering as there is no food, water and almost all shops are closed," said one of the labourers, who had come from Kolkata.
"At least 500-1,000 workers have come here and yes, we all want to go back. We have no idea how to go back home as there is no information because electricity is cut off. We know some rescue planes have flown from India, we are trying to reach to them and go back home," he said.
Over 550 Indians have been evacuated by the Indian Air Force as India stepped up relief and rescue mission. "We all work here and go back to India almost in a year. We really want to go back as we are not able to talk to our family back home as there is lot of connection problem," said another, who also hails from Kolkata.
Thomas Nybo, a freelance photographer, was sitting in a coffee shop in Kathmandu's Thamel district and to him, it appeared to be a minor tremor at first but gradually gained intensity.
"This region is no stranger to earthquakes. A lot of people had the same feeling: This is a tremor, it passed. When that wasn't the case, they were in uncharted territory... It's basically an unwritten book," he told CNN.
