"It's really tragic:" UWM professor's entire family in Nepal, she & others to help any way they can

NEPAL/MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Rescue and aid workers in Nepal struggled to gain the upper hand Monday, April 27th against the devastation dealt by Saturday's 7.8-magnitude earthquake -- digging through rubble by hand, performing surgeries in makeshift operating theaters, scouring notoriously difficult terrain for more victims. On Monday, the growing death toll was nearing 5,000. In Wisconsin, knowing their families are accounted for, those from Nepal say the next step is supporting those affected in Nepal as they work to rebuild.

There are organizations in Milwaukee that aim to help people from Nepal become custom to living here -- but more than that, those involved with these organizations become a tight-knit community. It's almost like having a family while so far from home. That support is more important now than ever.

"It hits you. It hits your spirit. It's a disaster of a magnitude that you can't imagine. Even the temples I used to go are pretty much damaged," Kalyani Rai said.

Rai is an associated professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Rai's family still lives in the earthquake-devastated Nepal.

"I was shocked. I didn`t believe it. I tried to call home several times. I have a father who`s almost 100 years old and I could not get a hold of them," Rai said.

When Rai finally did get ahold of her family, she learned her father was alive. He hasn't been able to go back inside his home, and he's currently living in a tent outside and in his car. Rai says he's using his car to charge his phone so he can keep her updated as much as possible.

"We`re losing sacred places, but we`re also losing people from other parts of the world," Rai said.

Tilak KC's first thought was his brother, who lives close to the quake's epicenter.

"Only (Monday) morning I got a message from him. He's alright," Tilak KC said.

Jagdish Acharya, a priest with the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin's hometown is four or five hours away from Kathmandu. People travel to Nepal from all around the world to see those sacred places and to climb Mount Everest. Andy Land of Fond du Lac was doing just that when the earthquake hit.

"Andy and I, and I'm sure Andy and his wife talked about every worst-case scenario we could think of. And no one ever mentioned earthquakes," Land's mother, Loretta Land said.

Land's mother says her son survived the earthquake, but he still has to get down Mount Everest.

"You just wait. And you wait, and you wait, and you wait," Loretta Land said.

Land's effort to climb Mount Everest was to raise money for hospice, as Land is a hospice nurse. FOX6's Ted Perry profiled Land as he prepared for his trip.

Also currently in Nepal from Wisconsin -- a group of Medical College of Wisconsin students -- fourth-year students studying emergency medicine. They have all been accounted for and are okay.

"They are responding to this demand to help wherever they can," Dr. Stephen Hargarten, Associate Dean of Global Health at the Medical College of Wisconsin said.

Rai says there's a long road ahead for those in Nepal, including her family. She says she plans to help as much as she can, even from thousands of miles away.

"My immediate family and friends are all okay, but the entire country is in distress. It's really tragic," Rai said.

The Hindu Temple of Wisconsin in Pewaukee is holding a fundraiser this coming Sunday, May 3rd. All proceeds will help earthquake victims in Nepal with basic necessities.

"These are friends, these are neighbors, relatives.  We feel really bad and want to do everything we can," Mayank Mital said.

"In our heart, there is prayer for the victims.  If our voices or prayers could reach them, that would be good," Lakshmi Bharadwaj, vice president of the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin said.

The fundraiser will take place from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and is $6 per person.

It will be held at the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin at N4063 W 243 Pewaukee Road in Pewaukee.

Related stories: