Nepal earthquake: 'My family is safe but my country is destroyed'

Bollywood grieves for Nepal.

Following the devastating earthquake in Nepal that has claimed over 4000 lives so far, relief material, rescue teams and medical supplies is being rushed in from several quarters, including India.

Words of support and condolences have also been pouring in from all over the world.

Bollywood stars express shock and grief in the aftermath of the calamity:


Manisha Koirala

I am too shattered to say anything about what has happened in Nepal.

What can one say after a devastation such as this?

I want to go to Nepal immediately. But what can I do? I’m stuck in Mumbai as the airport in Kathmandu is closed.

I’ve made other travel arrangements and will be flying to Nepal soon. Luckily my family is safe. But my country is destroyed.
 

Shabana Azmi

I have such beautiful memories of Nepal from the shooting days of Dev Anand’s Ishq Ishq Ishq.

Kathmandu, Pokhra, Thyangboche offered breathtaking treks. I visited the country again as a SAARC goodwill ambassador against HIV AIDS and when my play Tumhari Amrita was staged there.

So many of our staff members are from Nepal.

The scale of the calamity, the devastation of heritage sites, more than 4000 lives lost... it is such a huge tragedy.

I am proud of the Indian government's swift response.

But having worked in the aftermath of both Latur and Bhuj earthquakes, I am deeply aware that fear psychosis lingers years after relief and rehabilitation is provided.

People will continue to sleep in the open for fear of aftershocks . Trauma counselling is very important in such cases.

Tapsee Pannu

I recently shot in Nepal for Baby.

It is such a beautiful and peaceful country.

It’s really unkind of nature to do this to Nepal. I hope and pray for the people of the country to have the strength to bounce back.

But I know nothing can ever compensate for this devastation. To say that it is sad would be an understatement.


Mala Sinha (Yesteryear Bollywood actress of Nepali descent)

My husband and his entire family is in Kathmandu. 

I was shattered when I heard about the earthquake. I was able to communicate with my family with great difficulty. 

Luckily they are safe and sound but my brother-in-law told me that the destruction of life and property is unprecedented. 

The house right in front of my in-law's just collapsed into a heap. 

Entire villages have been reduced to rubble. 

Heritage sites, old temples are all gone.

This was an angry rebuke from Mother Earth. The end of the world is very near. We no longer value this earth. It will be soon taken away from us.

Raveena Tandon

It’s heartbreaking to see loss of life and property of such magnitude.

We are pushing mother nature towards the edge.

Nepalese don’t deserve this. The small Himalayan country is rich in culture and heritage. It’s shattering to see this happen to them.