The death toll in Nepal is now over 6,600 persons with a further 100 believed to have died in neighbouring India, Tibet and Bangladesh. The roads to the highly affected areas are closed and the rescue teams are also facing problem to reach on the spot to help people. They all are expecting the roads to open in due course. Satish 9N1AA is supposed to go to Langtang area to join the rescue team to locate people now that his operations on 20m have closed.
Sandip Baruha VU2MUE set up an APRS station in New Delhi and also connected one Italian APRS station in Nepal and exchanged massages. It is hoped to get more information regarding APRS from Sandip soon.
Additional Nepal licenses are now believed to be issued with 2 new callsigns issued 9N3AA, to OM Jose and 9N3RT to OM Ravinder. There are another 4 9N1 stations are in operation from different places. VU HAMs are continuously watching the operation from early morning to midnight and sometime after that also. We are thankful to get cooperation from VU2PEP VU2SCV, VU3TAH, VU3SIO, VU2BL, VU2DVG, VU3PUA, VU3SXN and myself VU2JAU.
Chinese Radio Amateurs as part of a relief team are now established Tinchuli,Boudha,Kathmandu on generator power. They hope to get their 9N7 callsign from the Ministry of communication on Sunday.
People are still looking to get their mobiles to charge so 100 mobile chargers landed there. 30 mobile chargers given in Sakal area, 50 given in Sindhupal chowk and remaining will be distributed in other areas.
Media interest in the Radio Amateur response remains high with the following items being seen over the last 24 hours;
Poland ( TVN24 TV ) – https://youtu.be/XDHId-UiJz4
India – (The Hindu Newspaper ) – http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/nepal-quake-relief-mumbai-ham-radio-group-plays-a-role/article7159073.ece
Canada – ( CBC Radio ) http://www.cbc.ca/1.3057421
Within the Amateur Radio community there is a greater interest in the emergency aspect of the hobby and anyone interested in finding our more should contact their National Co-Ordinators. In Region 1 their details are available here.