No matter how much we criticise the government and local authorities, it will be very difficult for a developing nation to respond to the challenges of major, cataclysmic events completely prepared. Hence, my lesson from this unfortunate disaster is — to first know and understand why earthquake takes place and how best can one respond to such events under challenging situations. I have learnt to enquire about the seismic level zone where an individual resides, the quality of the construction materials of the buildings, road conditions, and based on that to roughly evaluate how vulnerable they could be if an incident like this takes place again. Also I have learnt to have an emergency kit bag available at my disposal with some emergency contacts, local currency, first aid supplies and necessary medicine, important identification and bank documents, extra clothing, dry food, a torch, pen and note. And the bag content is updated after every three months; and is handy enough to be carried as a backpack while evacuating a facility or a building.

— Saikat Kumar Basu, Lethbridge AB Canada T1J 4B3

One thing people may have learnt in 2015 is that life is too short. The earthquake and its aftershocks have stunned people. It has affected people in such a way that when people hear anyone say ‘Aayo Aayo’ they are scared as hell. But many people have not learnt anything yet. They are not maintaining their houses. Even the Government is not showing much interest.

— Anonymous

It occurred nearly one year ago. A bright year was darkened by a devastating earthquake. The images of April 25, 2015 have been ingrained in our memories. Moreover, we know the worst images are those that haunt people now — the empty seats at the dinner table, children who were forced to grow up without their parent. Nearly, 9,000 citizens were taken from us, leaving a void in our hearts. From these I have learnt is the importance of awareness on the safety measures that I have adopted in my life as well.

— Nabin Joshi, Bright future S School, Kathmandu

On Baisakh 12, almost half of my house fell apart when the earthquake hit our country and the aftershocks made it worse. It took a lot of time to manage to get the useful things out of the house. For a middle class family like mine, building a new house is not easy. The rainy season made it worst. Nonetheless, I have learnt that till your family and friends are safe and alive, you can pass through any hurdles even at its worst. It’s okay that we haven’t built a new house, we sooner or later will. How would we ever get over the grief of losing our loved ones? More than safety measures, I always tell everyone not to panic, scream and jump out of the house, which is really not a good idea. Hope 2073 BS will be a happy year for mother Nepal.

— Sunita Shakya, Lalitpur

Natural calamities like earthquake and other natural disasters hit without any warning. So, we should always be ready for each trouble. On April 25, 2015, I had gone for swimming. My brother and I had just come out of swimming pool, and I was changing my dress in the changing room when the earthquake struck. I got scared and I tried to run out but the door was not opening — I got more scared believing that I am going to die. But after few seconds door opened automatically and I ran as fast as possible, and I met my brother. Since that incident, whenever my friend asks me to go for swimming, I recall those moments. However, that day has prepared me for such disasters in future — which is why I have made an earthquake bag.

— Rebati Karki, Basundhara  

It has been almost a year that the massive earthquake crippled everything resulting in the mental chaos and adversity in our country. That horrible experience has brought a difference in my life. However, I’m still bound to live under the quake affected rented house due to my financial issues, regardless of my sense of awareness and consciousness regarding the safety measures to minimise the effects of the quake.

Now, I’m thinking of searching for a new room here in my hometown, Tansen which would be safer. After all, being an honest and conscious citizen of the country, I have a huge responsibility of not only handling the personal issues but also playing a mandatory role to raise awareness in society about the preventive measures to minimise earthquake’s damages.

Last year, I was sitting under the table of my room when the land shook suddenly. That was my wrong decision because we can’t feel secured in a risky house made of mud and stones. So far, I’ve realised that when we are in open places at the time of quake, there’s no such threat for us while several precautions ought to be taken when we are at unsafe place at the time of quake. To be honest, I’ve not been a part of any awareness campaign related to the safety measures of the unpredictable earthquake.

— Sanjog Karki,Tansen-6, Basantapur, Palpa

It’s been almost a year that we have gone through the traumatic earthquake. And I guess, nobody wants to even recall those dark days when we experienced only fear. But now the things have changed. Slowly we are living our life as normal as before. And that’s what the greatest lesson I have ever learnt — to move on. Yes, life has to go on no matter how tough a situation is. And next thing I have learnt is to stay calm and not to panic during such shocks. Though we are still experiencing aftershocks, it has rather filled me with aplomb to stay alert and safe so that I can somehow free my life from risks.

— Rashmi Karki, Balaju, Kathmandu

Nature nourishes our lives, bestowing us with her unlimited natural resources. But she can be destructive and unpredictable which was evident in 2015 — the devastating earthquake. I believe that destruction is the source of creation. The whole universe was created in a big explosion they say (the Big Bang theory). The disaster of 2015 claimed thousands of lives and billions of rupees. But it is an opportunity to rebuild a new stronger Nepal. Let’s not be fatalistic, rather let’s be pragmatic. Now we must unify our human and technological resources to recreate what has been destroyed, even better. Why not start with Dharahara?

— Nerinav

It was a blood-curdling experience. The mere thought of it gives goosebumps. It was a kind of frustrating and depressive ‘seismophobia’. Images of destruction and deaths continuously replayed and it affected me psychologically. Propaganda of another major earthquake and other related stories added to my fear. I was scared even by the sound of airplanes, vehicles, shaking of tables and chairs at times. For me it was like waiting for death. The earthquake coerced us to leave home and sleep in tent — the only safety measure to be safe from the quake. We stayed under tent for one month. From all these experiences, the major lesson I learnt from the earthquake is that our life is unpredictable. So, what I have to do today should not be postponed for tomorrow. As we know, solidarity is the most important thing on such calamity and so we should cooperate with each other for assistance.

— Lalita Dulal, Maitidevi- 33, Kathmandu

For most of us the year 2072 BS was full of pain, fear and mental trauma as the devastating earthquake took away our near and dear ones. I lost my cousin’s mother and his two young daughters. It was an unforgettable trauma for our family which haunts us. Their faces and images come to my mind and I desperately miss them. It is difficult to overcome this loss. Earthquake resistant houses and proper housing system are the important measures that should be adopted. The Government and we people should focus on this matter seriously.

— Subha Dangol, Bhainsepati

April 25, 2015 is a black day in the history. The earthquake and its aftershocks sill haunt me. But we can handle every hardship in any condition if we are united is what I have learnt from it. After the quake, there were losses and destruction, but harmony, sense of ‘we’, tolerance and integration et cetera had developed among people.

— Santosh Chaulagain, Sindhupalchowk

The year 2072 BS was one of the most sluggish and turbulent year in my lifetime. The perennial temblors which accompanied us whole year has taught me a great lesson in my hectic rational life — we should always be careful as such catastrophe could happen in anytime, anywhere and could happen to anyone. I think that living in the earthquake resistant home can prevent us from this great disaster. We should construct quake resistant infrastructures as well. We should be more conscious and create awareness on adopting safety measures during the time when temblors strike. The buildings and apartments which were thought to resist quake up to 8 Richter scale couldn’t resist the earthquake of 7.6 magnitude. Hence, the Government should also give attention towards these claims for public safety. In addition, we should be more conscious towards preserving nature and respecting its importance.

— Simran Giri, Masbar 7, Pokhara

Life is made up of full of uncertainties. It has been nearly a year that our nation was hit by massive earthquake followed by lots of disasters, destructions and damages all over Nepal. It was really a time of chaos and uncertainty. Many people were traumatised by the tremors and many still are, even today. But safety measures really saved many lives to some extent. This earthquake has taught me a lesson to trust in god wholeheartedly because I realised that god alone

can help us in time of dangers and difficulties. Human power is nothing compared to divine power. The loving care and protection of god can keep us safe and sound wherever we are.

— Sabina Sharma, St Xavier’s College, Maitighar

After the April 25 earthquake shook the nation in 2015, I have come to a conclusion that such natural disasters are unpredictable in nature. So, we should always be prepared in order to protect ourselves when earthquakes hit. For example, whenever earthquake strikes, we should be calm and cool and find an open space where we will be able to make ourselves safe.

— Pratik Shrestha, Buddhanagar, Baneshwor

April 25, 2015 is the day when ‘She’ — our unwelcome guest — paid a visit to Nepal, and left us all with broken hearts and unending tears. That day taught me to live each day with an attitude of gratitude. I was very afraid of ‘her’ and I wished she would never come back again but she seemed to make unexpected visits often. This incident has left behind a lesson for me that I am not permanent and one day I have to leave this world and all that I hold dear to me. As for safety measures, I have learnt not to panic and if it is possible to run out into an open area, and to hide under the bed or table if you are in room. Nowadays I do not pay much attention to her but it affects me especially when I think of my fellow citizens who are still suffering in many parts of this country.

— Rincy K Joy, Kerala

It has been a year since the devastating earthquake rocked the nation in 2015. Still we are getting aftershocks time and again, which keep us reminding that major day took many lives and damaged properties. Actually that day I was in Kathmandu and I was totally in shock after I saw the destruction around me. Luckily nothing happened to me but there were destruction, fear and panic everywhere, and people were in pain. We then went to an open space for our safety and spent more than three- and-half weeks in open space under tarpaulin. I have learnt how disastrous earthquake can be, and how much destruction it can cause if we don’t prepare for it. We normally don’t care about earthquake until it hits us. Perhaps every people of Nepal now would definitely think twice before making or renting a house.

— Kes Bahadur Pun, Simpani, Pokhara

The awareness level has been raised dramatically after the powerful earthquake hit Nepal in 2015. I learnt the importance of building a strong, earthquake resistant building. It sounds funny, but now I have the ability to sense even a minor tremor and my adrenaline gland works really fast to make me act quickly. I am now aware while walking around in very congested places. My family and I have started discussion about the safety measures to be taken during an earthquake more seriously. We also have made an emergency kit which includes first aid kit and food items. In bigger level, my community has conducted awareness programmes so that all people will have proper knowledge about earthquake.

— Wilbur Acharya, Hattigaunda, Kathmandu

I had never thought we would experience such a powerful earthquake in our life. It was like a nightmare and I feel very glad to survive it and I am sorry to those who lost their family and friends. I too lost my relatives and property in that calamity. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. However, it is said that time is a good healer and now I have learnt to endure everything that comes in the way.

Currently, I am living in Capital for my studies and employment. I know, this city is prone to earthquake and the infrastructure is not earthquake friendly. Quake is a natural calamity and we can’t predict it, we however can plan the measures to take to be safe.

— Sulochana Panta, Kavre

The earthquake of 2015 is one of the scariest experiences for all of us. Even today, when I recall that moment, I get goosebumps. And the lessons that I have learnt is that no one has the power to control a natural disaster. Even the powerful people have to kneel down in front of it. Also, I have learnt that in the difficult times, strangers can also become your family.

— Sonika Lamichhane

Sadly, during this one year period we have faced many aftershocks one after another. I had participated in many public awareness programmes in 2015. Such programmes boosted my morale about the earthquake. Wherever I participated, I found one thing similar —‘low morale of the people’. The government thus should focus on morale boosting programmes so that people can face their phobias and fear of the quake and are able to prepare themselves to face another quake.

— Saroj Wagle, Dumarwana, Bara

The year 2015 was a nightmare for me as I experienced the intimidating quake. Even today I get scared remembering that day — I was in my room, reading my text and all of a sudden I noticed the shaking of my bed. Unknown to the fact that it was an earthquake, I concluded my sister had pranked me. So, I didn’t take it seriously. Meanwhile, I heard yelling of people as “earthquake, earthquake” which made me realise that it was an earthquake. At that moment, I went blank but I managed to go under the bed, continuously chanting the name of god. When the shaking stopped, I ran out of my house.

That terrifying earthquake taught me a life lesson. It educated me to have patience, be bold and strong during the time of difficulties and misery. Likewise, I became vigilant about the safety measures to be adopted during such catastrophe. I have come to know that one should stay calm, run towards plain area (playground, field, et cetera), lay down under the bed or table, protect the head with hands from any other concrete objects and so on during the quake.

— Sirjan Malla, Devdaha-4,Ruandehi, Aims College of Butwal Management

April 25, 2015 — it was an unforgettable day in the history of Nepal. We Nepalis experienced a strong earthquake that ruined lives and properties of people. We won’t get rid of its fear for a long time because we are still facing aftershocks frequently. The destruction of the poorly-built structures damaged more lives ofpeople while the

heritage sites collapsed destroying the nation’s cultural history. It has been almost one year but the situation of earthquake victims is still the same. Their condition is still miserable. Also, we got lessons from earthquake about the safety measures. To be safe from the earthquake we must encourage people to build earthquake resistant physical structures. We have to learn the technique to be safe in the time of earthquake and adopt the safety measures also. We shouldn’t avoid the discussion on the importance of free spaces as well.

— Asit Baral, Pokhara-7, Masbar