KATHMANDU: Nepal commemorated the 27th Earthquake Safety Day today, marking the anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake of 1990 BS, with a renewed emphasis on disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure.
The day was observed nationwide under the theme “Lessons Learned from Earthquakes: Strong Structures and Robust Preparedness.”
The Department of Urban Development and Building Construction has organized various programs to emphasize the importance of earthquake safety.
Director-General Machakaji Maharjan stressed the importance of public awareness and resilient structural designs to mitigate risks.
He highlighted ongoing efforts, including policy enforcement, capacity building, research, and monitoring, to strengthen earthquake preparedness. Updated building codes, reflecting lessons from past disasters, are being implemented to enhance resilience.
Senior seismologist Dr. Lok Bijay Adhikari from the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center emphasized public education on earthquake safety measures and called for prioritizing early warning systems to minimize potential losses.
However, concerns about insufficient preparedness remain. In Jajarkot, many earthquake victims continue to live in temporary shelters due to delayed relief efforts.
Disaster management expert Dr. Dharmaraj Upreti noted that inadequate planning has exacerbated post-disaster challenges.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Rs 101.12 billion is required to rebuild over 95,787 private homes and other damaged structures in Jajarkot and other affected areas.
Dr. Ramesh Guragai, acting executive director of the National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal, stressed the need to make new construction earthquake-resistant. Engineer Amit Prasad Timalsena called for the strict implementation of building codes to ensure safety in future constructions.
The observance highlighted Nepal’s progress in disaster risk reduction but also drew attention to the gaps in preparedness and rehabilitation, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to protect lives and infrastructure from future earthquakes.
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