KATHMANDU, JANUARY 16

Today, the 2nd day of the Nepali month of Magh, is being observed as Earthquake Day with the slogan 'Earthquake protected infrastructure, base of safe life'. It is to mark the tragic memory of the earthquake that occurred in the year 1934 on this very day which led to the demise of more than 8,519 people when the population was barely 5.6 million.

Earthquakes have been hitting Nepal since time immemorial with the first recorded earthquake going back to the year 1223. King Abhaya Malla was ruling then, who later lost his life in the earthquake of the year 1255. King Ari Malla Dev perished in the following earthquake of 1347. Many earthquakes followed in the years 1260, 1408, 1505, 1680, 1767, 1834, 1869, 1916, 1934, 1966,1980, 1988, 2011 and 2015.

An earthquake is characterised by the shaking of the earth, which is otherwise firm and still. This is caused by the collision of the Indian and the Tibetan Plate in Nepal, two of the several plates that form the earth. On the upper part of the plates are several blocks like earth mass separated by vertical cracks, also known as faults.

After the plates break due to tremendous stress developed by the movement of one above the other, it shakes the earth mass on which we live. It manifests in the form of an earthquake which is responsible for the collapse of buildings in which we stay, leading to several deaths and injury.

The point of the breakage of the plates is known as the hypocentre, and its corresponding point on the earth is known as the epicentre.

The devastation is high on the epicenter, and it gets lesser in places away from it. The epicentre of the last earthquake of 2015 was in Barpak, Gorkha district where the devastation was simply stunning.

The earthquake is measured in terms of the amount of energy released on the Richter scale, starting from 1, which is equivalent to 2 million Joules that is required to boil about 12 kilogrammes of water. An earthquake of 3 on the Richter scale is not sensed by the people, which keep taking place every now and then. The 2015 earthquake was of 7.8 magnitude while the one in 1934 is said to have been of 8.3. The largest earthquake ever recorded was of 9.5 that occurred in Chile offshore in 1960.

Nepal had experienced a huge earthquake in 1505 when King Ratna Malla was ruling in Kathmandu. Fortunately, it did not enter Kathmandu. Energy has been building up in the last 518 years, making it 8.7 on the Richter scale. It will affect several building in Delhi, including Taj Mahal at Agra, the eighth wonder of the world, which did not experience it in 1505 as it was constructed only later in the year 1648.

If that is the case in western Nepal, in eastern Nepal, the energy has not been released totally by the 2015 earthquake, indicating that it can hit any time in the future. So, Nepal is kind of facing seismic wars on two fronts, one in the west and the other in the east.

According to Nepal Reconstruction Authority, the 2015 earthquake led to the demise of near to 8,970 people and 22,300 injuries. Almost 5.6 million people were affected in 32 districts, and the total loss was of US$ 7billion. About 3 billion was pledged by the donors for the reconstruction.

Near to 1,000 monuments were damaged in various degrees, from total collapse to minor cracks round the country, with 150 in the Kathmandu Valley alone. UNESCO had estimated $160 million for their repairs.

The most remarkable was the collapse of the Dharahara built by Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa in 1824. In fact, he had built yet another twin tower upon the order of then Queen Lalita Tripura Sundari, both of which collapsed in the 1834 earthquake. The first tower was not repaired due to his political downfall and subsequent death. However, the second tower was rebuilt but fell down again in the 1934 earthquake, which was again reconstructed by Prime Minister Juddha Shamsher. It again came down in 2015 and has been restored again.

But the other tower could not be located and rebuilt despite the requests of several people, including this columnist, as it fell on the deaf ear of the government. It could be a real reconstruction feat in the whole of the world had both the towers been reconstructed. The other notable works were the Ranipokhari Temple and Kasthamandap.

Nepal has not prepared adequately for future earthquakes likely both in the western and eastern areas. Some indigenous technique may provide the answer. It has been found that some of the traditional temples in Nepal and outside have made use of stones in open joint in its foundations. Research done on such technology during the aftershocks of the 2015 earthquake at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology compound by this columnist revealed the damping of the earthquake to the tune of 50 per cent.

This technology cannot address the body waves, but it appears to damp the surface wave, which is more devastating. It is simple and cost effective, which could be used in the whole country, in general, and mountainous Nepal, in particular, which has profuse amounts of stones in its earth crust.

This observation of Earthquake Day was initiated by National Society for Earthquake Technology 25 years back in collaboration with several institutions like the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Disaster Prevention Network, Nepal Geological Society and Nepal Centre for Disaster Management. It has raised awareness to a considerable extent. But our lack of preparedness was hopelessly exposed in the 2015 earthquake. Nepal should prepare for this Herculean task more effectively in order not to let the tragic history repeat again and again.

It has been found that some of the traditional temples in Nepal and outside have made use of stones in open joint in its foundations. Research was done on such technology during the aftershocks of the 2015 quake

A version of this article appears in the print on January 17, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.