Nepalese restaurant owners have described the horror of finding unclaimed bodies lying in hospitals after an earthquake.

Sanat Gurung, who owns the Golden Sip restaurant in Northolt Road, South Harrow, and his wife Sajani Gurung recently returned home from Nepal after almost a month visiting their family in the country.

The couple had flown out on April 6 to visit Mrs Gurung’s family in Kathmandu, but found themselves separated in the city after the earthquake struck.

Mr Gurung said: “We had only bought a house four days before, so my wife had gone out shopping for furniture while I was still there when it hit.

“I was in the dark because I didn’t know what to do and there was no electricity or water, so we had to use the radio to find out what had happened.

“Straight away I called my wife using my UK mobile to make sure she was safe, and we went to her mother’s house to make sure everyone was fine there.”

The earthquake – the country’s worst in 80 years with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale - struck at midday on April 25, killing more than 7,500 and injuring thousands.

He added: “There wasn’t any chance. It just came on so quickly and without warning, and left so many people trapped and damaged so many buildings.

“The main hospital is now too unsafe to be used and they were transferring people to another one, and we walked through the corridors to help and they were full of bodies, unclaimed bodies that no one could identify because of what happened to them.

“When you see people being brought out from the rubble... You hear them calling for help deep in the destruction, and you know there’s nothing you can do, nothing can be done.”

The restaurant, in partnership with the South Harrow Traders Association, is now preparing to host two fundraising nights to collect donations of money, clothes, medicines and dried food.

Jay Parmer, of the South Harrow Traders Association, said: “People might ask why they should give to our collection, instead of the national ones, but this one is personal.

“We’re doing it because of the experiences they had, and we want to give back in a personal capacity, and make sure it all goes to the people who need it the most.”

The first of two fundraising events will be held on Tuesday, May 12. People can visit the restaurant to drop off their donations from 5pm to 10pm.

A second event will be held from 6pm on Wednesday, May 13, as the restaurant celebrates its second anniversary with a fundraising dinner – with all proceeds going towards the appeal fund.

Once all the donations have been received, members of the fundraising team will fly out to Nepal to drop off the goods and money by helicopter to the most affected areas.

Mr Gurung added: “It’s very important to donate and help, because so many people have been affected.”

People wishing to donate can also donate over the phone, on 020 8426 6300.