Government officials, diplomats and ordinary people gathered at the remains of a fallen iconic tower in the Nepalese capital yesterday to mark the anniversary of a devastating earthquake that killed thousands and injured many more in the Himalayan nation.
Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli laid a wreath at the ruins of the Dharahara tower in the heart of Kathmandu. The structure collapsed on April 25 last year, killing 132 people.
“I lost a friend who was working at the top of the tower on that day. I hope he and others are in a good a place,” Ram Shrestha said.
Photo: EPA
He said that he had just stepped out a few minutes before the earthquake to go shopping and survived.
Madhav Newpane, who runs a shop near the tower, witnessed its collapse.
He returned yesterday with a bouquet of flowers and candles.
“There were many people killed here on that day. I will never be able to forget that day,” Newpane said.
Buddhist monks also gathered in Kathmandu’s Durbar Square to pray for nearly 9,000 people killed in the earthquake and aftershocks.
Nepal has been criticized for the slow reconstruction of the nearly 1 million houses despite foreign donors already pledging US$4.1 billion in aid. Millions of people remain homeless.
A group of about 20 protesters dressed in black took to the streets, chanting slogans criticizing the slow pace of rebuilding. Police quickly removed their banner but allowed them to shout anti-government statements.
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