Josef did get out of his room and when he did there was a general sense of fear everywhere. Reports were trickling in of the collapsed houses, deaths and injuries and rescue efforts.
The 68-year-old Austrian first came to Nepal three decades ago with an aim to climb mountains. After the earthquake he spent the nights for at least two weeks inside a tent in the hotel premises. Josef, who had gained a close acquaintance with the people in remote villages of Nepal during trekking in the Himalayan trails, resolved to help Nepal and the Nepali people during this time of crisis. He made contact with his Austrian friend Stephan Keck, who had earned himself a name in mountaineering and trekking expeditions in Europe.
"With Stephan's support I gave a live interview to an Austrian television channel of the earthquake and the suffering of the people," Josef told the National News Agency (RSS) before leaving Nepal after the earthquake.
Clothing materials, tarpaulin sheets, sleeping bags, food and medicines started arriving from Austria. It was distributed in Dolakha, Rasuwa, Gorkha and Nuwakot among other quake-stricken districts. Doctors and nurses were taken repeatedly to Rolwaling area of Dolakha district on helicopter for treatment of the injured and the quake-shocked locals. The deformed roads were repaired and makeshift wooden bridges were placed above the rivulets for facilitating transport.
Josef said at least one million Euro was spent on purchasing a total of 62,000 kilograms of materials coupled with 100,000 Euros spent on chartered flights and another 100,000 for transportation and management. With Stephan's help a health post each were installed at Rolwaling and Manaslu areas. As an alternative source of energy, solar energy is currently being developed in Rolwaling at a cost of 100,000 Euros.
The earthquake killed around 9,000 Nepali people and injured more than 21,000. In the quake, 800,000 houses were destroyed and 450 archeological heritages were also partially damaged or completely ruined. The estimate of the damages incurred during the massive earthquake stands at around Rs 700 billion.
The Austrians –Josef, Stephan and Christina Hirbers – launched a campaign 'Help Nepal by Visiting Nepal'. It helped draw holiday makers from Austria, Germany and Switzerland. They trekked to Rolwaling, Khumbu and Manaslu and other places in Nepal.
The group in collaboration with the Himalaya Peace Education Foundation built five makeshift rooms roofed with corrugated zinc sheets at the Bhrameshwori Lower Secondary School located at Nigale area of Kakani in Nuwakot district at the cost of Rs 600,000. They also built five makeshift rooms in Sunkanya Lower Secondary School at Dobhan village at the cost of Rs 200,000, said the Foundation Chairman Rajendra Bahadur Lama.
Stephan, who climbed Mt Dhaulagiri I, Mt Choyu and Mt Manaslu and now plans to climb Mt Everest in 2017, says the support for the quake victims will continue with installation of more health posts and community buildings.
Stephan headed towards Manaslu after completing the two weeks trekking of Khumbu area with the Austrian group. He is now developing a documentary 'Nepal is safe to travel'.
Stephan has been visiting Nepal for the last 15 years. "In Europe when you scale 8,000 meter mountain by risking your life it is taken as a matter of courage and pride. The Sherpas have helped us in fulfilling our dreams. So I want to often come to Nepal and help," Stephan said.
Josef plans to build hotels, lodges and start paragliding and skiing in Rolwaling to promote adventure tourism. "I am able to help in this time of crisis and I am satisfied that I was able to help in health treatment and reconstruction works," he said.
"My family is asking me to return to Austria to celebrate the holidays, but I have not had enough of travelling in Nepal," Joseph confided.
In 1986, Josef attempted to scale the Mt Choyu (8,201 meters) through the Nangwala Pass (5,700 meters) that lie between Tibet and Nepal. He had to return from 7,000 meters due to adverse weather conditions. But after 12 years he successfully climbed Mt Choyu. He climbed Amadablam (6,812 meters) with another mountaineer Phurpa Thundup in 2004. Two years later during an expedition to Mt Pumori, Phurpa died. Following the tragedy, Josef lent financial support to his family and children and became friends with Phurpa's brother Phurpa Tenzing Sherpa.
"We survived Mt Pumori and now we are together in climbing mountains and in social works," said Phurpa Tenzing Sherpa who climbed Mt Everest nine times at the age of 24. In 2012, Josef fulfilled his dream of climbing the highest peak in the world Mt Everest along with Phurpa.
"The beautiful mountains and the warm hospitality of the Nepali people have always encouraged me to return to Nepal, so Nepal has become my second home," Joseph says. RSS
Related story
Austrian who takes Nepal as 'second home' lending hands to rebu...
