Quake: A Wake-up Call

In the morning hours of 7th January, 2025, a deadly earthquake of 7.1 magnitude rattled Shigatse and adjacent areas of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. As the quake’s epicentre was close to the Nepal-China border, its jolts were experienced in various parts of Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley. The tremor was felt even in some parts of Bangladesh and India. The quake was like a wake-up call, and many people in Kathmandu left their homes owing to its fear. 

Earthquakes are nothing new for Nepal. The Himalaya nation stands right between two very seismically active tectonic plates by the name of Indian and Tibetan tectonic plates. The country had to go through a devastating mega earthquake in 2015 with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale. The earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks had tremendously damaged Nepal’s infrastructures and the whole economy. We are now in our tenth year after the incident. But it is ironic to see how we completely forgot about it, and only remember it when another earthquake occurs.  

This kind of curative approach is not appropriate; it is rather risky. Recently, Nepal’s far-western region recorded a number of quakes one after another. In those rural areas, traditionally built houses have become a curse for the majority of the people. Constructed with stones and mud, the foundation and structures crumble in seconds just by a single strong jolt. Now that we have gained so much experience and are aware of Nepal’s critical position concerning earthquakes, we must not just stand still and let nature take its own course. 

Doing so can cause more damage than expected. Nepal is in need of a full-proof disaster risk management strategy. Japan, for instance, has been successful in its disaster risk management approach. The Japanese have reformed their building codes and invested much in building houses that move side to side during earthquakes. Such a practice of preparedness has helped the country prevent large human casualties, protect infrastructures and keep its development mostly unaffected. 

The major problem Nepal currently faces is that of resource constraint. Combined with that, we lack highly skilled manpower and experts to lead the way in building earthquake-resilient infrastructures. But more importantly, owing to the absence of strict monitoring, our building codes have become a plaything for individuals and constructors. They seem to have been least concerned about quake-resilient infrastructure, rather are always prepared to defy nature itself! Buildings are constructed so haphazardly that more storeys are added without getting the permission. This highlights the lack of awareness and seriousness in most Nepali people. 

From now on, our focus should be on disaster risk management and mass public awareness. The country has a National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority. Plus, the responsibility of disaster management falls under the concurrent power of the federal, provincial and local levels. Therefore, concerted efforts of these authorities are fundamental. Likewise, the management should be holistic with special emphasis on vulnerable women, children and those individuals belonging to the weaker sections of the society. 

Our efforts should not just be limited to reconstruction and rehabilitation. Rather, it should incorporate various target programmes for a sustainable upliftment of the weak. With cooperation, coordination and collaboration among government, private sectors, community organisations and development partners, we can build an earthquake-resilient society. Hopefully, the government work towards building a nation well-coped and resilient to earthquakes and other disasters.