Damauli, January 12

As many as 42,000 people were killed in various disasters in the last 45 years in Nepal.

The data was made public at a function organised by Byash Municipality, National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal and Tanahun chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalists in Damauli.

Manager Khadak Singh Oli at National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal said 42,000 people were killed in different disasters in 45 years from 1971 to 2016. “Of them, 50.6 per cent died of epidemic while others died in earthquakes.

According to the data, 80 per cent deaths by the earthquakes were blamed on poor infrastructure, while eight per cent deaths occurred due to lack of emergency health service, fire and other post-quake causes.

National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal said  69 per cent people died in 2015 earthquakes due to fragile structures of their houses. Rabindra Mul, engineer at Byash Municipality, stressed the need to construct quake-resistant buildings to save lives and property. Byash Municipality Mayor Baikuntha Neupane said lives could be saved if strong structures were built.