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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
NDMA to probe rising extreme weather events in U'khand, Himachal
Dehradun: In the wake of back-to-back extreme weather events in the Himalayan states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has announced that a team of experts will soon be sent to Uttarakhand to study the recent flash flood-disaster in Dharali and assess the growing threat of such climate-linked incidents in the region. Rajendra Singh, member secretary of NDMA, said on Friday that a similar team recently completed a field assessment in Himachal Pradesh following a series of deadly landslides and floods last month. "The findings from both states will help us better understand why such high-impact events are occurring more frequently in both states," Singh said. He added that the visit to Uttarakhand will be undertaken after the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and a scheduled tour of the affected region by an inter-ministerial expert group. Dharali village in Uttarkashi was devastated earlier this week after a massive flash flood — triggered by a suspected glacial debris collapse — flattened dozens of buildings and cut off road access. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with over 90 helicopter sorties flown to evacuate the stranded. O by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo fficials said the goal is to examine the underlying climatic and geological factors driving these disasters in the region. Experts say rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and fragile mountain geology are creating a dangerous combination, adding that "NDMA's findings must feed into new guidelines for disaster preparedness, infrastructure planning and climate adaptation for Himalayan states." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Times of Oman
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Decade of resilience: Nepal commemorates devastating 2015 earthquake
Kathmandu: A minute's silence was observed for 8,969 victims who lost their lives on April 25 2015, in the devastating earthquake of 7.8 Richter scale a decade ago. Nepal, following a candlelight vigil on Friday, recounted the harrowing memory of the devastation a decade later as the Himalayan nation commemorated the disaster. Standing below the replica of Dharahara Tower that fell down during the earthquake a decade ago, killing dozens, Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli commemorated those killed in the natural disaster. "At 11:56 AM, with epicentre at Barpak of Gorkha, a devastating earthquake had shaken the nation. It caused huge devastation, resulting in damage to property and lives. I would like to pay my tribute to those who lost their lives in that disaster," Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said, standing below the replica of the iconic tower. The Dharahara, an iconic tower built first by Nepal's first Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa, was brought down by the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. PM Oli laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new Dharahara on December 28, 2019. Later, Raman Construction Company Limited was awarded the contract for its construction. The new Dharahara was built in the same architectural style as the old one, but with a larger diameter. It stands 72 meters tall and has 22 storeys. According to official records, the earthquake damaged more than half a million homes and other structures. As highlighted in the government's Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report, Nepal ranks as the 11th most earthquake-prone country globally. Since the disaster a decade ago, the reconstruction drive has been marred by irregularities and political intervention, with many of the reconstruction projects still in limbo. The government, which initially had planned to preserve the remains of iconic Dharahara, is now wrapped in green curtains, with the remains covered by a tin roof. "We have shown extraordinary reconstruction efforts at such times. At that time, for the search and rescue, relief distribution, our security agencies, various organisations, and locals themselves had shown resilience and were exceptional," Oli claimed. A decade after the tragedy, the Himalayan Nation commemorated the disaster under the theme "Let's build safe infrastructure, let's stay safe from earthquakes." Locals and conservationists organised a candlelight vigil in Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lights were lit on the steps of the temple in memory of those killed in the disaster that struck the nation ten years ago. "Ten years ago, the devastating earthquake caused severe damage to the structures of the nation's identity, Hanumandhoka (Kathmandu) Durbar Square and some were trapped beneath the rubble, and many others perished here. It is a collective commemoration for those who lost their lives across the nation in the Gorkha Earthquake; we gathered here to pray for the departed souls and their eternal peace, one decade since the tragedy," Ganapati Lal Shrestha, a local participant of the vigil, told ANI. Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister also had participated in the candlelight vigil on the base of a replica of the Dharahara tower, where foreign dignitaries also paid homage to those who perished.
The Star
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
A decade after the devastating 2015 earthquake, is Nepal any safer?
KATHMANDU: Friday (April 25) marks the tenth anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, claiming nearly 9,000 lives and injuring over 22,300 people. The major quake measuring magnitude 7.8 and its numerous aftershocks devastated the country, damaging more than half a million homes and other structures, according to official records. After the 2015 earthquake, Nepal continued to experience aftershocks for an extended period. As highlighted in the government's Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report, Nepal ranks as the 11th most earthquake-prone country globally. 'Since the first recorded earthquake in 1255 AD, which killed a third of the Kathmandu Valley's population, including King Abhaya Malla, Nepal has witnessed a major earthquake every few generations,' the report states. The last significant earthquake before 2015, with a magnitude of 8.4 in 1934, resulted in over 10,000 deaths in the Kathmandu Valley. Significant earthquakes also occurred in 1980, 1988, and 2011, all of which caused substantial loss of life and property. After the 2015 disaster, Nepal experienced jolts of varying magnitudes frequently. In November 2023, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck Jajarkot in western Nepal, resulting in the tragic loss of 153 lives. In response to the 2015 disaster, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration introduced the Town Development, Urban Planning and Basic Guidelines on Building Houses, 2015, to reduce casualties in future disasters. However, despite introduction of these policies, experts warn that the initial resolve to improve safety standards has faded over the years. Amod Mani Dixit, president at the National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET), an NGO dedicated to earthquake preparedness, noted that although significant policy decisions, such as enforcing stricter building codes, were made, they have not been effectively implemented. 'There are serious issues in the monitoring of infrastructure construction,' Dixit told the Post. 'Unfortunately, no corrective measures have been taken.' Dixit emphasised the need for commemorating disasters as important occasions of public education and preparedness. 'Other countries establish museums with earthquake memorabilia to maintain awareness. In Nepal, however, these crucial matters are often ignored by the authorities.' Government officials, meanwhile, contested Dixit's claims. Kali Prasad Parajuli, spokesperson for the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, asserted that the government has fully enforced the recommended policies with regard to implementing building codes and delegated authority to provincial governments. 'Provincial administrations now have the power to set building standards, though these must be at least as stringent as those of the federal government,' said Parajuli. 'Many municipalities are actively demolishing structures that breach building codes.' Most activities related to town development, urban planning and open spaces, as well as building new houses, are overseen by the Ministry of Urban Development, said Parajuli. However, an official at the Ministry of Urban Development argues that their role is limited to coordination, as the local governments are responsible for overseeing such activities. 'I doubt rural municipalities bother getting building maps approved before construction, since they are not required to do it. Map approval is compulsory only in municipalities,' said Narayan Prasad Mainali, a joint secretary at the Urban Development Ministry. 'But the code of conduct implemented by the government soon after the earthquake of 2015 should have been implemented by local governments.' Mainali argued that they are not aware of what the local level governments are doing with regard to implementing the building code. While the central government claims the implementation of the code of conduct for building houses falls under local units, local governments on the other hand claim the absence of technical experts to support their supervision. Nimesh Mishra, the chief administrative officer of Melamchi Municipality in Sindhupalchok district, one of the most affected areas by the devastating 2015 earthquakes, claims that local residents have partially followed the building code enforced by the government. 'However, the place is still prone to a multi-hazardous situation, since landslides and floods have continuously hit the area,' Mishra said. 'Even the houses built following the building code have been impacted.' Barpak of Gorkha was the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake. However, following years of the quake, people in the area seldom follow the building code of conduct established by the government, says Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, the chair of Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality. 'People who received reconstruction aid from the government after the earthquake followed the building code, but the people building houses these days do not follow such conduct.' Dixit says the new constitution has empowered the local level but without technical know-how. He thinks that the local units alone cannot monitor these tasks properly in the absence of technicians. The 2015 guidelines state that the house structure of a commercial building should cover no more than 50 per cent of its plot, while the structure of residential houses should be limited within 70 per cent of the plot. Experts claim these codes are routinely ignored. Architectural engineer Susan Vaidya of Livable Kathmandu initiative remarked that in urban areas where land prices are extremely high, compliance is often impractical. 'The government must formulate more realistic standards,' she said. Experts agree that ignoring the lessons of the past puts Nepal at grave risk. The country lies on a major tectonic zone, where the Indian and Tibetan (Eurasian) plates collide. The officer of the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre stressed preparedness saying another large earthquake could strike Nepal at any time. 'Nepal sits in one of the world's most active continental collision zones,' the officer explained. 'The Indian plate continues to push northward by about four centimeters a year. This builds pressure until rocks eventually fracture, causing earthquakes.' Dixit points out that the government has failed to protect and promote open spaces, which are vital during emergencies, especially in urban areas. For instance, the Bhainsepati area in Lalitpur was earmarked as open space after the 2015 quake, but is now occupied by ministerial residences. The open space that has been breached in the core residential area is located in Bhaisepati, where a new minister's quarter has been constructed. There were at least eight hundred eighty-eight open spaces throughout the Kathmandu Valley before the 2015 earthquake. What is the condition of those open spaces at present? Dixit questioned. During the 2015 crisis, open spaces played a critical role, with many Kathmandu residents taking shelter in fields near the Nepal Army Officers' Club at Sundhara, Bagdurbar. Even these areas are now covered by buildings. Government officials also agree that space constraints in cities like Kathmandu pose a serious challenge during major disasters. 'Yes, there was a discussion post-earthquake about preserving open spaces, but availability of land is a genuine concern in urban zones,' they acknowledged. 'In some instances, buildings were constructed out of necessity.' - The Kathmandu Post/ANN
