The Northern Territory news Mon 4 May 2015
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2015-05-04
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/256768
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/517362
04 NEWS MONDAY MAY 4 2015 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 Darwin family back together after quake A DARWIN mother and her young son who were ready to die in the Nepal earthquake have reunited with family in an emotional return home yesterday morning. Suyana Shrestha, 34, and son Siraj, 3, arrived in Kathmandu to visit her sick father just two days before the magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck and killed more than 7000 people on Saturday, April 25. Ms Shrestha said she was serving food at her in-laws home when the unit block started shaking violently. The building was around three storeys and we were in the first floor and it was just shaking and swinging around, Ms Shrestha said. We ran around to take the three little kids (two of her inlaws young children and Siraj) and the wall from the other side was falling over and we could see it collapse through to the apartment next door. We were crying and screaming but we didnt want to run around because there were kids so we just stayed there for a while, it was going for about 2.5 minutes, all of the walls cracked. It was so traumatising. Ms Shrestha, Siraj and her family soon moved to a demolished school where they stayed in the open air for the next three days. We couldnt take anything, she said. When the earthquake was stopped some people would go around the houses and get some biscuits and fruits and things like that. Ms Shrestha said the constant aftershocks kept everyone outdoors, sleeping among rubble, with no shelter and few supplies. On the second day it was raining and that makes things worse because the soil is wet and people have to sleep on it, she said. I was worried about my sons health but I had to stop worrying and thought OK if we are going to die, we are ready to die because you cant stop the earthquake so we were ready for anything. Ms Shrestha said her son coped well, too young to understand the concept of an earthquake, instead relating the camping experience to family picnics in Berry Springs National Park. The Federal Government chartered flights for Australian citizens back to home soil and Ms Shrestha and Siraj were among those assisted last Thursday. Sudeep Shrestha, reunited with his wife and son in Bangkok, where they had a two-day stopover en route to Darwin. I was very happy to see them, Mr Shrestha said. In Bangkok my son just said lets go home, lets go home. Ms Shresthas father survived the earthquake but died from unrelated causes on Saturday. Big jets banned, P10 Sudeep Shrestha is grateful to have wife, Suyana, and son, Siraj Shrestha, 3, back home in Darwin safe after they were caught in the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal Picture: PATRICK MALONE MEGAN PALIN Warning to keep safe on roads ROAD deaths are tragic and unnecessary and need to be reduced, according to a new road safety campaign. The Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week campaign kicked off yesterday in a bid to try and raise awareness and provide education on road safety. Minister for Transport Peter Chandler launched the Yellow Ribbon DRIVE So Others Survive (SOS)! campaign which coincides with the United Nations Global Road Safety Week. The aim of the campaign is to remember the number of Australians who are killed or injured in vehicle related crashes each year and stand in solidarity with their families, friends and communities, Mr Chandler said. On average over the past 10 years, 48 people are killed on Territory roads each year and around 536 are seriously injured. These deaths are tragic and unnecessary and we are joining with the rest of Australia to do everything we can to reduce our road toll. (We) will continue to strive to make our road network safer for all users. Mr Chandler said a Family Open Day will be held on Saturday May 9 from 10am. www.budget.nt.gov.au $ 39 million to enhance Litchfi eld National Park including $28.5 million to improve access to the park through road and bridge upgrades $ 4.75 million Tourism Infrastructure Development Fund to stimulate regional visitation $ 8 million on enhancements at the Darwin Waterfront $25 million to complete the sealing of the Mereenie Inner Loop The Northern Territory Government believes the world should Do the NT and is investing in infrastructure to help tourism grow and develop better facilities for Territorians in the process. Upgrades that will benefi t the tourism industry include: $39 million for Litchfi eld National Park including road and facility upgrades $25 million for the Mereenie Inner Loop $4.75 million for a Tourism Infrastructure Development Fund with a focus on regional, remote and Indigenous tourism products $8 million on enhancements at the Darwin Waterfront Budget 2015 invests in the future to help make Territorians lives simpler, safer and smarter.