Nepal earthquake report

The rescue and recovery work is continuing after the devastating 7.8 on the Ritcher scale earthquake that claimed more than 3,200 lives, with many missing, and widespread damage in Nepal.

The Nepal Amateur Radio Society is providing emergency communications. Satish Krishna Kharel 9N1AA reports that with help from VU2 in India and others work is continuing. This includes the use of four wheel drive vehicles. Satish 9N1AA said information has already been provided on the status of about 80 loved ones of foreign radio amateurs and others. He was using solar power in coordination with the Nepal police in Kathmandu. Also sharing the emcomm work with Suresh Upreti 9N1HA.

The earthquake on April 25 caused landslides on Mount Everest during the climbing season, where some lives of mountaineers and others were lost. The capital of Kathmandu was among the areas hit. An emergency net on 20 metres on 14.205 and/or 14.215 MHz, has Jayu Bhide VU2JAU/AT150ITU, the Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) National Coordinator for Disaster Communication, as net controller. Other VUs are involved. Activity has also been reported on 7.100, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz.

Nepal's first Amateur Radio repeater, set up in 2012 by the National Society for Earthquake Technology, had a dozen hams who previously engaged in simulated emergency tests. The 9N1KS repeater 434.500 MHz in and 145.000 MHz out, is on the outskirts of Kathmandu with coverage into the Kathmandu Valley. There is no cross-border movement so far of radio equipment and radio amateurs.

-Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.

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