Residents sit in a square on after a major 7.8 earthquake hit Kathmandu. Photo / Getty Images
Residents sit in a square on after a major 7.8 earthquake hit Kathmandu. Photo / Getty Images
A five-star hotel in the capital city of Nepal has been accused of only letting wealthy visitors into the grounds and refusing to help desperate homeless people by a furious Sherpa.
Mountain guide Ang Tshering Lama claimed luxury hotel Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu were only letting "a few rich people and westerners" in to seek sanctuary in its 37 acres of open land.
He took a series of pictures which he claimed showed people with rucksacks lounging on the grass while others were left outside to set up makeshift camps on roadsides outside the complex.
Managers at the hotel have denied the allegation and say it is "not true".
Thousands of Nepali people have been left homeless by the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which has claimed the lives of at least 4,000 people - although it is feared it could reach as high as 10,000.
"They had lots of empty spaces and they didn't let poor Nepali people enter in to take refuge in their open green lawns.
"There were places which was cramped in and no place to sit, forget about laying down for a sleep. The only let few rich people and some westerners in... Hayatt is making money in Nepal and they don't take care of Nepali people.
"B******t. I was p****d and angry. They even restricted me entering."
Sanjad Tapa, the director of sales at the Hyatt Regency, told the MailOnline that the Facebook post was not true.
He said: "It is not true. The Facebook post, that is not the case.
"In this sort of situation, even at private houses, people are going onto private land and we are a hotel and we have not stopped them.
"We do not have any further information on this."
Residents sit in a square on after a major 7.8 earthquake hit Kathmandu. Photo / Getty Images
Following the earthquake Hyatt Regency was left without running water or electricity, and engineers are on site to make it structurally safe so international relief organisations can base their operations there.
US-based company Hyatt runs 22 hotels across America in addition to hotels in Mumbai, Tokyo and Seoul.
In a statement on their website called "Our Hearts Go Out To Nepal", vice president Brigitta Witt of the US-based company said they are also working with MercyCorps as part of broader relief efforts.
She wrote: "The staff at the hotel has worked tirelessly since the quake struck to support guests, colleagues and neighbors.
"Confirming everyone's whereabouts was the first priority, followed by ensuring their safety.
"The next step was doing what they could to help guests get home, so that staff could start to focus more on the relief effort.
"The hotel is also readying support for colleagues and their families.
She added: "We know Nepal has a long rebuilding process ahead, and we want to do what we can to support our colleagues, neighbours and the community in Kathmandu during this difficult time."
