Kathmandu, January 16
The 24th National Earthquake Safety Day is being celebrated today by organizing various
programs across the country in remembrance of the earthquake that struck at 2:24 pm on
Magh 2, 1990. The day is being celebrated under the slogan ‘Earthquake Awareness, Safe Structure’.
This slogan has been decided with the objective of creating awareness among the people to
make earthquake resistant structures as weak structures, not earthquakes, will cause damage to human beings.
Magh 2, 2055 BS has been celebrated as the National Earthquake Safety Day. The government started celebrating the day with the aim of raising public awareness about possible earthquakes.
On the occasion of the day, the main function committee is organizing a special program in
Patan Durbar area today. Director General of the Department of Urban Development and
Building Padam Kumar Mainali informed that only certain people will be physically present in the program and all others will be invited to participate through virtual means.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khanna and Urban
Development Minister Ram Kumari Jhankri are also scheduled to address the program through virtual media.
The program has been changed in such a way that only the specified number of organizations including Ministry of Home Affairs, Department, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Earthquake Technology National Society Nepal (NSET) have gathered in the program. According to the original ceremony committee, the program was forced to change due to the new form of corona virus.
Director General of the Department, Mainali, who is also the coordinator of the Publicity Sub-Committee under the Earthquake Safety Day Main Ceremony Committee, said that those who want to be a virtual participant have a zoomID and password on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The committee has stated that as many people as possible can participate in ZoomID.
On this occasion, it is said that the Earthquake Safety Digital Exhibition will also be organized through virtual medium. On the occasion of the day, various organizations have been organizing programs to raise public awareness since Poush 15.
As there is an epidemic of corona virus this year, the program will be conducted by maintaining physical distance and adopting health safety measures.
As this day began to be celebrated, an earthquake with the epicenter of Barpak in Gorkha at 12:56 pm on Baishak 12, 2072 BS claimed the lives of about nine thousand people. More than eight million private homes were destroyed. More than 900 archeological sites were destroyed. The quake affected Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Gorkha, Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchok, Makwanpur, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts. The other 18 districts suffered partial damage.
Its reconstruction was inaugurated six years ago by President Vidyadevi Bhandari from
Ranipokhari and the Balgopaleshwar temple in the middle. Reconstruction of Ranipokhari and Balgopaleshwar, the sites inaugurated by the President, was completed last year.
The rest of the reconstruction work has been handed over to the concerned department afte the National Reconstruction Authority formed for post-earthquake reconstruction failed to complete the work within the stipulated period.
Post-earthquake reconstruction is said to be safe as it is earthquake resistant. Various studies have shown that energy has been stored in western Nepal for 500 years without major earthquakes.
Concerned bodies including the department have given priority to spreading public awareness in the area as the study of experts has shown that there could be huge damage due to future earthquakes.
The department has already started an awareness campaign for the construction of
earthquake-resistant structures in the western districts from Dang. It is said that cooperation has been made with the local government for this.
By Karuna Thapa
