He comedian duo of Sitaram Kattel (Dhurmus) and Kunjana Ghimirey (Suntali) of the weekly sitcom Meri Bassai were in the US in the middle of a two-and-a-half month tour when the Great Earthquake rattled Nepal on April 25. One week after the quake, the duo—who are also the Sanitation Brand Ambassadors for the Nepal government—were back in Nepal.

They had to cancel the remaining scheduled 18 shows, which were meant to raise money for sanitation programmes back home. Since they have been back, they have focused solely on carrying out relief work. The husband and wife are currently focusing their efforts in Pahari Basti, Danda Gaun, ward no 16, in Kavrepalanchok district, where they are working with locals to make earthquake -resistant houses for an Integrated Model Village; they are being helped in their endeavour by 50 Nepal Army personnel. The Post’s Anup Ojha caught up with the artists to talk about their relief work. Excerpts:

How did you react to the news of the Great Earthquake?

Sitaram: It was 2:45 am when we got the news. We were sleeping when we got a phone call from my sister-in-law in Nepal. When she provided the details of the earthquake , I started worrying about my friends and family back home