Earthquake Safety Day for safety from earthquakes

National Earthquake Safety Day is observed on Magh 2 every year to commemorate the natural atrocities and damages caused by the ‘nabbesaal ko bhukampa’ (the earthquake of 1934).

Earthquake in Nepal is somehow a continued process. Nepal is at risk of earthquakes, the main reason for the formation of mountain ranges is the movement of tectonic plates. The remains of Shaligram and other sea creatures found in Nepali mountain ranges have proved that there was an ocean in that place thousands of years ago.It has been confirmed that there is the Tethys Sea in that place and the formation of a mountain range due to the movement of tectonic plates over thousands of years. Due to this geographical situation, Nepal has always been at risk of earthquakes.

Big earthquakes in Nepal return in 80 to 100 years. Several small scale earthquakes, however, take place in between. The earthquake of 1934 was the big earthquake returned in 100 years. This was an 8.0 magnitude earthquake. The natural disaster killed 8000 persons in Nepal.

Yet again another big earthquake of 7.8 magnitudes took place in year 2015. Earthquake in Nepal in 1988 and 1995 are also damaged the lives and properties.

Inthe year 1934 AD, there were not as many hospitals and facilities as there are now, many died without getting treatment! Many of these rivers and streams changed their course due to the earthquake, some of the water sources dried up and some new sources overflowed.

Earthquake is a natural disaster and even if it cannot be prevented, one can protect oneself from the possible dangers. Earthquakes do not kill us, but when an earthquake strikes, our houses and infrastructures are destroyed and our lives are lost. As such, earthquake-safe society and infrastructure should be given as a gift to the coming generation. Continuation of safe construction and vigilance campaigns must be done. Stay safe, stay protected.

The epicentre of the earthquake of 2015 was Barpak of Gorkha district. That took place on April 25, 2015claimed the lives of about 9,000 people. More than hundreds of thousands of private homes were destroyed. More than 900 archaeological sites were also 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.

Many people have lost their lives in the year 2015 AD earthquake due to wrong or incomplete knowledge to be safe from earthquake and incorrectly built physical infrastructures. Because of impractical and less logical imported information, such as hiding under a table, hiding under a bed, and living indoors, many could not save themselves even when they had time to escape.

Earthquakes are an unavoidable part of Nepal’s future, just as they have been a part of its past as Nepal lies in a very active seismic zone.

It is thus very important and essential to create awareness among the people as well as the policy makers about the consequence of such disasters so that steps can be taken to mitigate or rducethe impact of such disasters in time. Keeping this reality in mind, Government of Nepal at National Society for Earthquake Technology  (NSET)’s request declared second day of the month of Magh as National Earthquake Safety Day (ESD), annually in commemoration of the Great Bihar-Nepal Earthquake of 1934.

Activities on the day focus on creating awareness about earthquakes. How to remain safe, safety measures, disaster management and knowledge and technology for earthquake proof constructions.

So every year on 2nd of Magh Nepal celebrates the national Earthquake Safety Day (ESD). It is in fact the culmination of earthquake risk management works implemented in the country in the preceding 12 months, and allows taking stock of the achievements and shortcomings.

NSET has been organising Earthquake Safety Days since 1999 with close cooperation with government organizations, municipalities, I/NGOs and local community. With invitation from NSET, participation from International level in ESD activities has also been very remarkable.

However, the 25th National Earthquake Safety Day’s celebration programmes scheduled the 2nd day Magh this year has been put off in the wake of air crash in Pokhara today morning.

It is to be mentioned that the government of Nepal decided to give a public holiday on Monday to mourn the fatal crash of the ATR-72 plane belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara, a programme ought to take place in Kathmandu in attendance of the Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs among others has been postponed. The Earthquake Safety Day may be observed within a week.