Disaster Relief: The 2015 Nepal Earthquake

On April 25, 2015, Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.6, followed by hundreds of aftershocks. The disaster claimed thousands of lives, injured tens of thousands, and left millions displaced with infrastructure severely damaged.

In the wake of this national tragedy, Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) Nepal mobilized its resources to fulfill its moral duty. Guided by the spirit of Sewa, the organization aimed to provide immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation to victims, regardless of their caste, creed, or religion.

Immediate Relief: Food and Shelter

In the immediate aftermath of the tremors, RSSB Nepal opened the gates of its Kathmandu Centre in Samakhusi to the public. The Centre served as a safe haven for those who had lost their homes or were too afraid to return indoors.

Community Kitchen (Langar): The kitchens of RSSB Nepal operated continuously. Over the course of one month, the Centre provided shelter and freshly cooked, hygienic vegetarian meals to 54,037 individuals.
Distribution: Beyond the Centre, volunteers reached out to affected communities, distributing 292,196 food packets to those stranded in various parts of the valley and surrounding areas.

Medical Assistance

Recognizing the immense pressure on national healthcare infrastructure, RSSB Nepal launched a multi-tiered medical relief operation:

Local Medical Teams: From May 5 to May 10, a team of five doctors manned three medical posts, treating and dispensing medicines to approximately 2,000 outpatients daily.
Mobile Units: Between May 7 and May 10, three mobile teams comprising doctors and pharmacists, equipped with essential medicines, were deployed to remote, hard-to-reach areas. These teams also facilitated free field kitchens (langars) to ensure displaced persons received both medical care and nutrition.
Collaboration with Fortis Healthcare: Upon the request of RSSB Nepal, a specialized team of 25 doctors from FORTIS Healthcare (Delhi) arrived in Nepal. They visited Kathmandu and six other severely affected districts, providing specialized treatment and drugs to 4,196 trauma victims.

Rehabilitation: Construction of Earthquake-Resistant Sheds

Once the immediate need for food and medicine stabilized, the focus shifted to rehabilitation. The lack of safe structures for schools and community housing was a critical issue. RSSB Nepal undertook a project to construct standardized, earthquake-resistant sheds.

Engineering: The structures utilized a specialized design developed by RSSB engineers. This prototype had been successfully deployed in previous disaster zones in Gujarat, Kashmir, and Ladakh, in India.
Execution: Standardized sheds, along with toilet blocks, were constructed and handed over to the community. A total of 25 structures were constructed in the worst-hit districts with 15 school buildings and 10 community buildings.

Partnership Model: The project was a collaborative effort. RSSB Nepal provided all construction materials, technical expertise, and volunteer labor (sevadars) free of charge. In return, local communities provided the land and ensured water and electrical connections.
Impact: These sheds served dual purposes - functioning as schools during the day to ensure the continuity of education for children, and as community shelters at night.

Nepal palung shelter — Shelter constructed at Palung, Makwanpur

The relief efforts were executed under the guidance of the RSSB Nepal central committee. However, the core of the operation was the thousands of volunteers (sevadars) who worked day and night in difficult conditions. Their dedication reflected the organization's teachings of selfless service - finding contentment and happiness in the opportunity to serve others in their time of greatest need.

Immediate Relief: Food and Shelter

Medical Assistance

Rehabilitation: Construction of Earthquake-Resistant Sheds

Further Reading