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When the earthquake struck, I was in my office on the third floor of the UNI Global Union building in the Nepal capital, Kathmandu. Although it was a Saturday, I had come in on the weekend to finish off some outstanding work.

Suddenly, a table started shaking. At first, I thought it was the printer which was running at the time and is attached to the table. This shake, it turns out, had been the first “alarm” shake which I could have used to escape the building. But then suddenly the main shock started. I tried to hide under a table but heavy files, books and other objects from the shelves had immediately started falling down and were hitting the table and I realised it wasn’t safe enough to use. I decided to run downstairs but this was a dangerous decision. It is unsafe to use stairs when a big quake is at its fullest power. I couldn’t step properly as the stairs were swaying from side to side. I fell down often but somehow I managed to come to the ground floor exit where I could still see houses, street lights and trees swinging from side to side.

Firstly, I wanted to call my family but I had left my cell phone in the office. There were aftershocks coming continuously and, frankly, I had no courage to go up again to get my phone. My family at home were worried as they were calling me with no answer. After 15 minutes I asked someone in the crowd to use his phone but unfortunately it didn’t work. Finally I managed to talk to my family and was relieved that everyone at home was safe. News of the earthquake had immediately spread around the world and many people started calling me with no answer. I can understand that must have been a panicking situation to my well-wishers and after around an hour, I decided to risk going upstairs to retrieve my phone. The moment I entered, I saw the mess in my office and decided it had been a good idea to run down rather than hiding under the table.

My latest problem was that I couldn’t see my phone on the table where I had left it nor could I find my laptop and bag. People from the ground outside were shouting at me to come down fast as the tremors were still shaking the building but I could not find anything in the office as everything had moved. I was drenched in sweat. Somehow I found the strength to stay until I found the things I needed and until I could switch off the power supply, lock the office properly and come down. It was then that I saw I had missed 65 calls and 32 sms messages from relatives, friends and colleagues locally and from abroad. Before I could reply to them, my phone would ring with a new caller who wanted to know about me, my family and friends.

I would like to thank everyone for their concerns, worries, support, solidarity and prayers ! Your single sentences of saying “ Stay strong, you are on our thoughts” has really strengthened me in this difficult situation. Thanks!

The UNI Nepalese Liaison Council, led by UNI APRO Director Rajendra Acharya, is carrying out vital relief work in response to the earthquake which killed more than 8,000 people earlier this year. Unions, in partnership with APHEDA-Union Aid Abroad have carried out food distributions, are running free health camps and have built temporary shelters to protect the public as the monsoon season arrives. Click here to donate to the appeal.