Nepal Earthquake River Rescue Mission – Interview with Anup Gurung

Nepali whitewater legend Anup Gurung is on its way to his home country after the tragic earthquake that took place a few days ago. The goal of this mission is to bring some help to the remote valleys and villages that paddlers often visit on their missions and that have remained mostly inaccessible since the earthquake. What was going to be an individual mission has taken on a fundraising component and turned into a team initiative involving a strong group of nurses, mountain guides, doctors and more. Just 24 hours before his departure, Anup gave us a call and explained what he is going to do. He will also report back to us as often as he can about what he sees, finds, and manages to do. While there are many worthy initiatives across the globe to help the Nepali people in the wake of this tragedy, if you have not donated yet, please consider supporting Anup’s project. And keep an eye on kayaksession.com for Anup’s updates.

ANUP ON HOW TO DONATE:
No specific web page has been created because we want to spend our precious time, as efficiently as possible. We have the Nepal Kayak Club Paypal where people can donate. (Click on the Donate Paypal icon below)

« It is a WAR ZONE we are going to step into, a TOTAL disaster ».

Kayak Session: Anup, you own a rafting company in Iceland, what brought you to run this mission?
Anup Gurung: It is of course painful and the most tragic moment for every single Nepali and anyone who loves Nepal. Everybody wants or wishes to be in Nepal and help. I am not a doctor, nor the most experienced rescuer, but I believe I am a good organizer and my voice is heard in some places in Nepal. Since the day of this event I knew that being thousands of miles away from home wasn’t going to be a good use of my skill. So I made the decision to hit the road.

« What was going to be an individual mission has taken on a fundraising component and turned into a team initiative involving a strong group of nurses, mountain guides, doctors and more »

Kayak Session: What are your exact goals?
Anup Gurung: I have become “we” and that “we” is a strong team of highly educated search and rescue gurus of Nepal, river guides, nurses and doctors, and an international search and rescue technical communication team. We plan to head to remote villages of the Bhote Koshi River area, Sindhupalchowk. Our main goal of this mission is to provide villages with temporary food, shelter and health care. We will do that at a village, inform the larger aid organizations about the situation, and then move on to the next village. As well, while I’m there I plan to collect information about the loss and damage done to our whitewater community and after my return make a further plan to address who needs our support and how we can all help people in our industry.

« it was simply a one man with his two hands mission. However, my post on 27th of April became viral and people started calling and wanting to donate »

Kayak Session: What do you know about the situation out there?
Anup Gurung: What I know for now is through a few of my local friends and news sources. It is a WAR ZONE we are going to step into, a TOTAL disaster.

Kayak Session: Is your family out there? How are they?
Anup Gurung: I come from the capital, Kathmandu. I have, of course, been trying to call them but I have not managed to talk to my parents yet. However, the day of the earthquake I got word through my friends that they are all safe.

« The after shocks are creating landslides one after another »

Kayak Session: What have you heard about rivers that have been destroyed, villages that paddlers normally visit that got erased from the map, or rafting/ kayaking trips that were on the river when that happened and are in trouble?
Anup Gurung: Mountains has crumbled down to ground so YES it has definitely deformed the riverbeds. The area we are heading to is next to the well known Bhote Koshi River. I heard that villages that we pass by during our drive or paddle through the area are in critical condition. They are already lacking everything to survive. Humans are slowly but surely dying. You can imagine what’s going on with the villagers who have to walk for days from the road we drive by.

Kayak Session: How about the roads? Are they still in place?
Anup Gurung: Road access in these affected areas is hard to assess. The after shocks are creating landslides one after another. The area we are heading to was already on the international news last year when the whole mountain collapsed. One of the reasons help and rescue has not reached this area is because of road access and terrain too steep for helicopters to land.

« I am already shaking just by hearing this question… I am sure I will be going through the worst moments of my life physically and emotionally ».

Kayak Session: What do you expect to see?
Anup Gurung: I am already shaking just by hearing this question… I am sure I will be going through the worst moments of my life physically and emotionally. I already know that there will be situations where we can do nothing but hold their hands and pray to god, assure them and tell them help will be on the way. Time will tell and I’m just moving forward knowing that I have to do it.

Kayak Session: You mentioned that one very important part to you is to make sure relief money will go to the people who really need it, right?
Anup Gurung: The day I decided to leave for Nepal, it was simply a one man with his two hands mission. However, my post on 27th of April became viral and people started calling and wanting to donate and help any other way they can. And I believe one reason everybody responded is because they trust in the words I posted: “I will make sure funds go to victims in the most need.”

Kayak Session: You said you plan report as often as you can while you are there right?
Anup Gurung: Yes it is a promise I have made to everybody to update as much as I can. But remember, our mission is to go to the remote parts of the area so if you don’t hear anything in these coming weeks don’t be surprised. It could mean that I have no internet connection or my presence there is much more important then letting the world know what I am up to. Thank you to all who donate and I will make sure to give a full report when I am back.