POKHARA, Nepal – Following the continued rise in the death toll after an earthquake shook Nepal, tourists were amazed at Pokhara as ‘business as usual’ continues as the town is spared from the destruction.
The town is located 73 km east of the epicenter, just an hour drive, of earthquake which wrecked neighboring towns.
Visitors flock to the town every year because of its majestic location for scenic mountain views, clear and dry winters, and abundance of activity sports including the zip line.
When Agence France-Presse visited Monday, April 27, the only evidence of a disaster that has killed more than 4,000 people elsewhere, were a few cracked walls.
Two days after the natural tragedy, tourists are back in action in the town.
“It was quite scary but to be honest I barely felt it and I only realized what was happening when I saw people around me,” said Rick Tul, from the Netherlands, putting on a life-jacket for a boat ride on a Pokhara lake.
“Everything here is great. Of course, you can sense that the locals are tense and worried but otherwise, everything is normal,” the 20-year-old told Agence France-Presse.
Based on US Geological Survey, the epicenter was actually 4 km closer to the town.
Meanwhile, according to New Delhi-based earthquake experts Milap Chand Sharma, the town is most probably located on a solid rock base which caused the land to resist the tremor.
Though tremors were felt in the township and the tourism department has not reported any dead from the quake, at least 50 injuries were admitted to local hospitals.
Dutch traveller Mariana Hoake said she was in Kathmandu when the quake struck before leaving for Pokhara to escape the devastated capital which now lies in ruins.
“Pokhara is peaceful, nothing compared to Kathmandu after the quake. Here, everything is normal – people are back to work, kids are playing around, there’s power, Internet, everything.”, the traveler said.
H/T: Rappler.com; and photo
