I felt more alive when I feared death.

It has been year after the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that took more than 9000 lives, left thousands injured and homeless. The greatest earthquake of the century that I have experienced is unforgettable.

Recalling that day, it was the time of Lubhoo Jatra (a local festival celebrated for nine days in Lubhoo, the place where I live).It was about 11:55 AM and I was busy playing FIFA. Suddenly there was a rattling sound. My sister screamed that it was earthquake and in a blink of time I was running out of my room for my life. The shock waves were so strong that I was hardly able to stand holding a pillar. As the shaking became more intense, I jumped from a cliff about 10 feet high. All I could remember about that moment is screaming of the people, houses being smashed to the ground, surrounding covered with dust.

The earthquake lasted for a minute. Fortunately none of the people in my locality lost their lives except some poor livestock who were unable to flee as they were tamed in their sheds. Many homes were destroyed and in that chaotic moment people were busy calling their relatives. The phone lines were jammed being unable to handle so many calls at the same time. Even I couldn’t find my mom for a moment and I had to rush to the rubbles to search her but she had gone to the well to fetch water. Despite the destruction caused by the earthquake there was a sort of happiness to see my mom was well. My dad had gone somewhere (usually he never says where he is headed unto) and we were out of contact with him for several hours after the earthquake. There were frequent aftershocks that created more fear among people. At about 3 PM in the evening my dad arrived home.

As most of this generation hadn’t experienced such a massive quake before, it created an immense fear in them. Every aftershock was preceded with a sound similar to the growling of the rocks. So people were scared even with a sound of a motorbike. I felt more alive when I feared death and almost all who faced it, felt it. So be grateful fellas because life has given us all a second chance.

Picture taken several days after earthquake at Lakuri Vanjyang view point.