BIRATNAGAR: Authorities today cautioned the local residents about the impending danger of earthquake.

In a report unveiled here, experts warned that Birantanar Municipality falls under the high-risk earthquake zone and that the locals pay enough heed to it.

Experts gathered here in a programme organised to spread awareness on earthquake, urged everyone to get prepared for any eventuality.

An awareness-cum-preparedness seminar was also organised on the occasion in which Anish Joshi, a specialist, informed that the area covering from Singiya River to the east and Keshliya River in the west is a high-risk earthquake-prone zone.

The northern and southern part of Biratnagar, the Dharan-Biratnagar Highway, has also been listed as earthquake-prone zone.

The study has shown that there are no rocks underneath the land. The experts taking part in the programme also suggested preventive measures to help avert possible mishap from earthquake.

Worse still, 80 per cent of the buildings in the area are constructed without minimum capacity to withstand earthquake, the report highlighted.

Officials at the Biratnagar Sub-Municipality said only 5,000 houses out of 70,000 are constructed as per the standard building code.

Earthquake-proof infrastructure began to pour in after the government implemented the building construction code in 1998.