Nepal Earthquake: Law student watches family home collapse

Aarya Dixit, a 20-year-old law student in Pune, watched her house collapse on a news channel on Saturday after the powerful earthquake which took place at her hometown in Nepal. Her attempts to contact her family were to no avail. Her father, who runs a business in Kathmandu, finally managed to get in touch. Although he was fine, her grandmother was missing.

Also read: Death and destruction as massive earthquake hits Nepal

The second-year BBA-LLB student at Symbiosis Law School recalls, "When my roommates shared the news about the earthquake, I tried to make contact with my family and friends but there was no response. Later, from the news I found out that the earthquake had affected my locality. I started packing my bags and was unable to control my emotions."

Nepal Earthquake: The day the Earth shook

She went on, "Some of my friends were contacting the helplines but they didn't have any particular information. Finally after three hours my father contacted me. I was in shock. He told me that my bedroom and another room of our house has collapsed. Everyone is on the streets and people are still afraid to move inside their homes." With exams around the corner, she fears she will not be able to focus on her studies.

Aarya Dixit with her father

Rohan Jaisi, vice-president of Nepali Social Organisation of India, said, "More than 1,000 Nepali resident are working and studying in Pune.

Many are trying to contact their families but in vain. The news information that is being telecast is only about urban areas but there is a lot of destruction in rural Nepal. More than 200 Nepalese working in Pune as security guards are worried about home."