大象传媒

Novelist and poet Vikram Seth says the Nepal earthquake is "tragic beyond words".

Seth, who formerly lived in Nepal for six months, said the country was 鈥渋n a pretty bad way鈥� prior to the quake.

"It had been wracked by wars (almost a civil war), political uncertainty, hardly any investment in infrastructure - squashed between two very large neighbours China and India.

鈥淥n top of that to have something as destructive of people's livelihood, their spirit and also their historical heritage is tragic beyond words.

"I said it had crushed their spirit - I don't think it's quite done that though because they're a warm-hearted and hardy people," he added.

This interview is taken from Afternoon Edition Wednesday 29 April 2015.