Couple facing grim task in Nepal

Anne Gray, fourth from left, and husband Kevin, behind her, with other volunteers outside their hostel in Kathmandu ready to help in the clean-up. Photo / International Development Agency

Paihia couple Kevin and Anne Gray could be helping clear bodies from among tonnes of debris left behind by a powerful earthquake in Nepal.

It is something they'd never dreamt of doing when they signed up for volunteer work at an orphanage and a childcare centre in Kathmandu three weeks ago.

They are among about 20 International Development Agency (IDEX) volunteers in Kathmandu who have decided to stay and help in the clean-up rather than return home after the earthquake last weekend killed more than 4000 and injured thousands more.

The Grays were caught up in the disaster while travelling in a bus back to their hostel after visiting the Chitwan National Park, about 146km west of the capital city.

Their daughter, Jacqui Organ, said although her parents were not prepared for the recovery work, they were ready to do whatever they could to help locals in their hour of need.

They had left for Nepal on April 11 and were due to return on May 14. "Dad was supposed to be doing fence construction and a retaining wall at a church but his and the roles of other volunteers have changed and it looks like he'll be working at a hospital or help clear debris," Ms Organ said.

She said many of the volunteers were in their late teens, had had a frightening experience in the earthquake and were not equipped or had life experience to deal with such work.

Kevin is 64 and his wife 62 years old.

"They have been informed there are horrors out there ... made aware of bodies being piled up and cremated and what to expect," the Whangarei kindergarten teacher said.

Ms Organ said her parents had spent the past four nights on concrete floors and slept "marae-styles" due to aftershocks.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Saturday swept across Nepal's Mt Everest region, killing at least 18 climbers and guides, and sent an avalanche slamming into a section of the mountaineering base camp.