Earthquake Disaster

Kathmandu city lies in the heavy damage zone and suffered with large scale earthquakes. In 1934 an earthquake of magnitude 8.3 rector scale and in 1988 of 6.6 caused serious damage to 60% of the buildings in Kathmandu valley. Return period of such type or earthquake evaluated about 25 to 50 years i.e. we are waiting for a large-scare earthquake in near future.

After 2046, urban areas are growing very fast all over the country and some more in Kathmandu valley. Unplanned growth of the valley creates an immense inability to function as the capital of Nepal, when a large-scale earthquake occurs. In Kathmandu valley only, there are 64 squatters’ settlements and entire population of the city is residing in most vulnerable houses. The demand for land in the valley has lead to live in most vulnerable house and use marginal land prone to natural hazards.