On the 13th day of earthquake, the Nepali film artists gathered in Pragya Pratisthan to remember almost eight thousand dead in the biggest earthquake in 80 years. In the event film artists, music artists and theater artists were present to light candles.
According to Nepal Police, as of May 7, the earthquake had killed 7767 people and left 15,911 people injured. Many more are still missing.
On the 13th day of the devastating Earthquake of April 25, 2015, Nepali film artists are planning to light candles to remember the victims. In an invitation sent by actress Deepa Shree Niraula, the participants are asked to wear simple (white) dress in the remembrance meet.
In Hindu tradition, 13th day of the death is considered the day to wrap up the mourning of a death. On the day, the dead is remembered and the belongings of the dead are handed over to a chosen person.
Actress Priyanka Karki, singer Anju Pant and singer Shiva Pariyar are collecting earthquake relief fund in the UK. After doing various volunteer works in hospital and other places, Priyanka had gone London, for fund collection (read earthquake relief works of Priyanka in Nepaliactress.com).
Priyanka had four pre-planned programs on May 2, May 9, May 10 and May 17 in UK. After Saturday’s earthquake she cancelled her Sunday’s flight to the UK and started working in earthquake relief work. The event coordinator in the UK however had different plans. They had already booked halls and people had already bought tickets for the shows. They decided to organize fund collection by collecting donations in the already booked halls. With that plan, Priyanka went to the UK on May 1.
With the help of Giro555 in Netherland, actor Rajesh Hamal has collected €9 million for the earthquake relief effort. Rajesh told that 90 percent of that amount will go to Nepal through different foundations. According to Nepal Government directive, all the relief money should go through the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
In a Facebook post Rajesh says:
I am impressed by Giro555. Initiation taken by the people of Holland to aid the earth quake victim of Nepal,it was my pleasure to be there to share story and make an appeal and thank the people of Holland for their support in the hour of need to the Nepali people. Also I’m thankful to the Nepali community in Holland.
With earthquake relief materials, relief volunteer team of actress Namrata Shrestha has reached a place called Kalthari, a few hours from Barhabise.
An interview of a local about the situation by Namrata Shrestha herself:
The road to the place was blocked by the landslide caused by earthquake. Reaching the place was a tough task but the team reached there and also managed to provide medical assistance. The locals in the area had complained that no government officials of anybody else had reached the place in a week of the earthquake.
Film Development Board (FDB) has decided to halt all the shooting and screening of Nepali movies for 15 days in the wake of Earthquake of April 25. The decision was made in a meeting held in Kathmandu on April 30. In the press release, there is no indication of when the 15-days count starts. The meeting was held in the coordination of FDB member Suresh Darpan Pokharel.
FDB has also formed a working committee in the coordination of Pokharel to volunteer in social awareness and distribution of basic needs to the victims. The program is being organized in co-ordination with the Health Ministry and World Health Organization (WHO). We had written the details of the preparation for the volunteer work previously.
Like other film artists, actress Rekha Thapa has also been actively helping earthquake victims by distributing things of necessity during the crisis. She has visited the camps and met the people and helped in whatever way she can. Rekha and ‘Bhimdatta’ director, Himgyap Lama ‘Tasi’ have been together since the earthquake and have been supporting the victims.
A video report:
Rekha and Himgyap distributed masks to the people to keep themselves safe in the event some epidemics. They have also helped the people by paying cremation fees for the people who can’t pay for it and to those who don’t have any relatives.
There were reports of individual film artists helping the earthquake victims. Now, they have teamed up with the health ministry and WHO to organize Health Awareness program. The program starting Saturday and running for three days in Kathmandu will cover Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur area. In the program, film artists will distribute relief materials and create awareness among the victims.
In an initial estimate 75 film artists will participate in the program. The doctors will also be part of the program to help control epidemics and conduct vaccination. The film artist team will be led by the member of Film Development Board, Suresh Darpan Pokharel, Keshav Bhattarai and producer Baburam Dahal.
Because of the devastating earthquake of April 24, the Nepali artists currently in the USA for cultural shows are returning back on May 2. In a video, Sitaram Kattel (Dhurmus ) and Kunjana Ghimire (Suntali) have told that they are saddened by the crisis and they don’t feel like performing in the shows any more.
Video news:
They also announced that they are returning back with other members of the team including singer Pashupati Sharma, Pramod Kharal and Sangita Thapa Magar.
To help the earthquake victims actress Namrata Shrestha and actor Aryan Sigdel have donated blood for the first time in their lives. They donated blood in a blood donation camp jointly set by the Nepal Directors Association and Film Journalist Association.
Photo – Namrata Shrestha looks scared on the thoughts of needle.
Actress Namrata said, "I am very scared of needle. I am giving up my fear of needle to help the earthquake victims." The blood donation program was held at the Blood Bank office in Bhrikutimandap.
The ‘Chha Ekan Chha‘ actress, Neeta Dhungana, has lost her nephew to the earthquake of April 25. 10-years-old Krishna died while saving his younger sister and his mother. Krishna was the only son of her elder sister.
The family of Neeta’s sister have been mourning the death of Krishna in their residence in Ravi Bhawan, Kalanki.
To an online magazine, Neeta told that Krishna had carried his two younger sisters to safety and was stuck by the falling window of the house when was going inside in search of his mother. Nobody saw Krishna when every started running away from the house. He was killed instantly.
The father of actor Sabin Shrestha has died of brain hemorrhage in a hospital in Bansbari. According to the director Nawal Nepal, 64-years old Laxman Shrestha had died on April 27 at around 4:00 PM.
Laxman Shrestha was rushed to Nuro Hospital when excessive blood pressure caused problem in his head. Laxman is also the father of fashion photographer and music video director, Nabin K. Shrestha.
In response to the horrific earthquake of Saturday, actress and model Sushma Karki has shed some tears. At the time of the earthquake Sushma was in Naubise area. She saw houses collapse in the area. Her brother also sustained a head injury and had to be stitched in the hospital.
When she reached her home, she heard of the collapse of the Dharahara tower and collapse of historic sites like Durbar Square and Basantapur caused her to cry.
On the wake of Nepal earthquake, actor Rajesh Hamal has canceled his programs in Paris, France and is planning to return back to Nepal soon. In a report, Rajesh Hamal had reached Europe after the cultural program in Qatar.
Rajesh had met the Nepali officials in the Nepal Embassy of France on the condition of Nepal before making the decision to return back. Rajesh Hamal also shared the cover of a French newspaper about the French PM’s decision to help Nepal.
Every year on April 27 the ‘Bhimdutta’ director Himgyap Lama used to celebrate his birthday. This year, the situation was a lot different. While everybody were in shock and mourning the April 25 earthquake, the terror hasn’t ceased yet as aftershock tremor continues till the time of this writing.
Himgyap termed his birthday a ‘Re-birth Day’ as he had survived the earthquake that had claimed more than 4,000 people, so far. In his Facebook profile, Himgyap writes:
Today is my birthday, 27 April, Re-Birth Day of mine after unexpected earthquake in Nepal, I was blessed by you all and thank you all wishers and prayers of my life.
