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Kathmandu,Wednesday January 19, 2000 Magh 5th, 2056.
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Quake precautions
Experts have repeatedly warned that Nepal, being located between the Tibetan
and Indian plates that continue to slide pass each other, is likely to be seriously
hit by and earthquake any time. It is predicted (TKP, January 16) that if the earthquake
of and eight-plus Richter scale that hit the country 66 years ago strikes again in Nepal,
tens of thousands of people of Kathmandu valley will be buried to death under their
unscientific and haphazardly constructed buildings. It is also reported that Nepal lies in
one of the world’s most active seismic areas.
Even though experts have been warning us of possible disasters and pointing
out the need for Nepal to be armed with stronger and scientific infrastructure, not any
concrete measures have been taken by the authorities concerned with housing and physical
planning. It seems that the efforts made so far have been limited to the hosting of
occasional seminars and workshops and observation of earthquake memorial day. The
government has to be extremely serious for enforcing the building codes which do not
increase construction cost to improve the safety level. All relevant agencies should come
forward to create a special cell that does not only continuously monitor the earthquake
possibility but also devise disaster management mechanisms. In order to ensure effective
handling of casualties in post-earthquake situations, such mechanisms should be developed
well in advance considering all the related factors such as supplies of medicines and
foods, arrangement for shelters, mobility of rescue workers and delivery of utilities (eg
electricity, telephone and drinking water, etc). Also, there should be occasional testing
of the execution of these mechanisms through simulation exercises that in turn will help
increase people’s awareness of the need to do something on their part to cope
with the likely disasters.
Earthquake is a natural disaster that might not be prevented but careful
planning can significantly reduce the magnitude of the disaster and the number of victims.
Dr Dinesh Pant,
Naya Bazar, Kathmandu |
