Speaking to select journalists at his office Tuesday afternoon, British ambassador to Nepal John Tucknott said,“"A structural engineer is arriving on Thursday from London to look into our compound wall and we will tear and rebuild the entire wall if necessary to ensure that the tragedy doesn´t repeat again”[break]
Tucknott said he personally and on the behalf of the UK government expresses regret for Sunday´s tragic event triggered by the quake. He also said he has met the victims´ families and members of the local community thrice, including Tuesday afternoon, since the tragic incident occurred.
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"The atmospheres of these meetings have been cordial and the victim families have their concerns which have been transmitted to Londo”," said Tucknott.
During Tuesday afternoon meeting, according to the ambassador, the victim families raised concern that the UK government should make quick decisions“ "I have assured them that I´m doing as quickly as our procedure allows us to d”."
During the meeting with the journalists, the ambassador defended the embassy staff´s decision to stop the rescue efforts by the local community members immediately after the quake saying that there was a good reason behind it.
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"Several security cameras were fitted along the wall at the time of the quake, as we do round-the-clock monitoring, and electricity was flowing in the cables connecting these cameras. We wanted to hold rescue operations until we were able to isolate these cables and stop electricity fl”w," he said, addin“, "There was a possibility of additional casualty due to electrocuti”n."
He, however, said once the cables were isolated and electricity flow stopped the rescue operation was allowed and the embassy staff offered full cooperation.
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