Earthquake Memorial Day

On April 25, 2015 (Baisakh 12, 2072), a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Barpak in Gorkha, resulting in extensive damage to both life and property. A total of 8,979 people lost their lives in this disaster, while 22,309 were injured, and numerous structures were destroyed.

Among the significant losses were the historic. Kasthamandap, which is associated with Kathmandu’s name, and the city’s iconic Dharahara. However, after nearly ten years, in the year 2082 BS, these heritage sites have been reconstructed and reemerged in their original places. Other old structures, including those in Durbar Square, are also gradually returning to their former glory.

What should we learn from this disaster?

Nepal is a very sensitive country in terms of seismic risk. However, not enough attention seems to have been paid to risk reduction and preparing for potential disasters. Since earthquakes are disasters that occur without any prior warning, it has become crucial to emphasize the construction of safe structures and awareness-raising activities at the public level these days.

Given that the tectonic plates beneath the Earth are constantly shifting, the likelihood of future earthquakes remains. While we cannot prevent earthquakes from occurring, we must implement measures to minimize their impact.