A Devastating

Disaster

A Case Study of Nepal Earthquake and Its

Impact on Human Beings
Submitted by:
Avni Dahiya
Submitted to:
Mr Sandeep
Class: IX C
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher as well
as our principal who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful
project on the topic, Earthquake , which also helped me in doing a lot of
Research and I came to know about so many new things. I am really thankful
to them.
Secondly I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a
lot in finalizing this project within the limited time frame.
Thank You
Avni Dahiya
 INTRODUCTION
Earthquake is a violent tremor in the earth crust, sending out a series of shock and aftershock
waves (L waves) in all direction from its focus. Earthquakes constitute one of the most terrible
natural hazards which often turn into disaster causing extensive devastation and loss of human
lives and their properties. A deadly earthquake shook Nepal and sent tremors through Indian
subcontinent. On 25th April and 12th May 2015, Nepal and its surrounding area were hit by
earthquakes which are considered to be the most devastating in the living memory of the
inhabitants of these affected areas. The 7.9 magnitude quake was the strongest to hit Nepal for
81 years. It was the most horrible natural disaster to hit Nepal since the 1934 Nepal–Bihar
border earthquake. The quake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, which was followed by 97
aftershocks of magnitudes 3.0-6.9 on Richter scale, caused heavy casualties in Kathmandu and
injured thousand others. The earthquakes had its epicentre at Lumjung, around 80 km north-
west of Kathmandu.
A second major earthquake occurred on 12 May 2015 at 12:35 IST with a magnitude of 7.3 on Richter scale. The epicentre was near the China border between Kathmandu and Mt. Everest, at Kodari around 113 kms east of Kathmandu. It struck at the depth of 18.5 km. This earthquake occurred along the same fault as the original earthquake of 25 April 2015. As such, it is considered to be anaftershockof the 25 April quake. Tremors were also felt in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and other North-east Indian States.
 METHODOLOGY
This research work is based on the empirical study of consequences of earthquakes. A systematic methodological
principle was followed in this study work. The whole work can be represented into three broad categories which
are noted below-
Pre field study
At the beginning intensive literature review from related books, journals, articles, government publication, etc. has
been done to specify the research problem and selecting the study area and topic of this research work.
Field study
The spatial information collected from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Geological Survey of India
was also taken into consideration. Primary and secondary data has been obtained through internet and current
News Papers. Photographic records of the related features have also been collected from different sources.
Post field study
The study of empirical observation has been done very carefully through measurement and analysis process to
know the causes and consequences of quakes. Data and other information available and generated on the field were
compiled using appropriate modern techniques on computer and satellite images, atlas and different maps. The
collected data have been quantified, analyzed and synthesized by using standard statistical methods.
 Causes of Earthquake
Earthquake of Nepal and India along the Himalayan belt were caused mainly due to collision of
Indian plate and Eurasian plate. Deep focus and high magnitudes of earthquakes are caused
along the convergent plate boundaries because of collision of two convergent plates, namely
Eurasian and Indian convergent plates. The subduction of Indian plate below Eurasian plate
caused Nepal earthquake at the belt of Himalaya. April 25 and May 12, 2015 earthquakes had
occurred on the northern boundary of the Indian plate which is under thrusting the Eurasian plate.
The main cause of Nepal earthquakes is attributed to the northward movement of Indian plate.
The Indian plate is moving toward north- northeast ward direction at an average rate of about
4.5-5 cm per annum, which causes a stress. On 25th April 2015, the stress built up as the Indian and
Eurasian plates slide under one other causing earthquake. The epicentre of these two earthquakes
has lay on the boundary of these two plates. The earth quake was caused at the depth of 10
kilometres. The 188 aftershocks measuring around 3.0-6.9 magnitudes in Richter scale were at the
depths of 10-50 kilometres. After the major earthquake, the earth‟s plates lost their equilibrium.
The aftershocks are basically nature‟s way to help earth get back its equilibrium.
 CONSEQUENCES OF EARTHQUAKE
DISASTROUS EVENTS IN VERY POOR AND POLITICALLY PARALYZED NATIONS SUCH AS NEPAL
OFTEN BECOME A LONG DRAWN OUT CHAIN OF EVENTS, IN THAT ONE DISASTER FEEDS INTO
ANOTHER FOR YEARS OR EVEN DECADES UPON END. THE AFTEREFFECTS FROM THE EARTHQUAKE
HAD SUBSEQUENT EFFECTS ON A MYRIAD OF THINGS: HUMAN TRAFFICKING, LABOUR COST AND
AVAILABILITY, RENTAL AND PROPERTY COST BURDENS, URBANIZATION, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC DEBT
BURDENS, MENTAL HEALTH, POLITICS, TOURISM, DISEASE, AND DAMAGE TO THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM. A SURVEY SOME 30 MONTHS AFTERWARDS FOUND ONLY 12% OF THE
RECONSTRUCTION MONEY HAD BEEN DISTRIBUTED, AND THOSE WITHOUT LAND WERE LOCKED
OUT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT, EXACERBATING THE SOCIAL DIVIDE AND FEEDING
MARGINALIZATION.
SOME DISASTERS THAT CAME WITH THE MONSOON SEASON WERE SUSPECTED TO BE RELATED
TO THE EARTHQUAKE. THERE WAS A LANDSLIP ON 11 JUNE THAT CLAIMED 53 LIVES.MEANWHILE, A
GLACIAL LAKE HAD BURST IN PARTICULARLY HARD HIT SOLUKHUMBHU DISTRICT.WHETHER OR
NOT THE QUAKE HAD CONTRIBUTED TO SUCH EVENTS IS OFTEN UNKNOWN AND
UNRESEARCHED, BUT CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.
 CASUALITIES
The earthquake killed more than 8,800 people in Nepal and injured nearly three times as
many. The rural death toll may have been minimized by the fact that most villagers were
outdoors working when the quake hit.As of 15 May, 6,271 people, including 1,700 from the
12 May aftershock, were still receiving treatment for their injuries. Nearly 3.5 million
people were left homeless.
A total of 78 deaths were reported in India – including 58 in Bihar, 16 in Uttar Pradesh, 3
in West Bengal and 1 in Rajasthan
27 dead and 4 missing, all from the Tibet Autonomous Region.
 Most Affected
Single women had very little access to relief, according to a report by the Inter-party
Women's Alliance (IPWA). The report also found that violence and rapes against women
and minors has increased after the earthquake. Additionally, the earthquake has
significantly affected certain groups of people. Tibeto-Burman peoples were hardest hit as
they tend to inhabit the higher slopes of mountains as opposed to the central valleys and are
less educated and connected. All of these factors make them harder to access. According to a
government survey, malnutrition in children has worsened considerably some 3 months after
the quake, with the most undernourished being Tamang and Chepang peoples. Before the
quake, 41 percent of children under five were stunted, 29 percent were underweight and 11
percent were emaciated, according to the World Food Programme.
 Social Effects
It was reported that the survivors were preyed upon by human traffickers involved in the supply
of girls and women to the brothels of South Asia. These traffickers took advantage of the chaos
that resulted from the aftermath of the earthquake. The most affected were women from poor
communities who lost their homes.
In response to the unsafe conditions of the temporary campsites, international organizations
implemented Safety Committees which were provided cash grants for necessities like additional
toilets and bathrooms.

Economic Loss
Concern was expressed that harvests could be reduced or lost this season as people affected by
the earthquake would have only a short time to plant crops before the onset of the Monsoon
rains.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially estimated economic losses from the tremor at 9 per cent to
50 per cent of gross domestic product, with a best guess of 35 per cent.
Rescue and Relief
About 90% of soldiers from the Nepalese Army were sent to the stricken areas in the aftermath of the
earthquake under Operation Sankat Mochan, with volunteers mobilized from other parts of the
country.Rainfall and aftershocks were factors complicating the rescue efforts, with potential secondary
effects like additional landslides and further building collapses being concerns
Volunteers used crisis mapping to help plan emergency aid work.[132] Local organization Kathmandu
Living Labs helped coordinate local knowledge on the ground and collaborated with international crisis
mapping and humanitarian organizations.
India pledged to donate $1 billion in cash and materials to Nepal.
Imaging technologies such as satellites and smartphones, were instrumental to relief efforts in Nepal.
GLIMS, group of volunteer scientists from nine nations, were able to provide rapid, systematic mapping
of the damaged area, allowing the investigation of earthquake-induced geo-hazard processes that
provided information to relief and recovery officials on the same timeframe as those operations were
occurring.
International Community – Response
A total of $3bn was pledged by donors to help rebuild Nepal. UNICEF said close to 1.7 million children
had been driven out into the open, and were in desperate need of drinking water, psychological
counsel, temporary shelters, sanitation and protection from disease outbreak. It distributed water, tents,
hygiene kits, water purification tablets and buckets. Numerous other organizations provided similar
support.
India was the first to respond within hours, being Nepal's immediate neighbour, with Operation Maitri
which provided rescue and relief by its armed forces. It also evacuated its own and other countries'
stranded nationals. India has been the largest aid donor to Nepal following the earthquake with a billion
dollar support apart from other non-monetary reliefs extended.
China, the Asian Development Bank and the United Kingdom provided significant bilateral aid and other
nations and organisations provided aid, rescue teams and helicopters as requested by the Nepalese
government.

Response within the country

Relief efforts were also hampered by Nepalese government insistence on routing aid through the Prime
Minister's Disaster Relief Fund and its National Emergency Operation Center. After concerns were
raised, it was clarified that "Non-profits" or NGOs already in the country could continue receiving aid
 Repair and reconstruction
Monuments
UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture began strengthening damaged monuments in danger of collapsing before
the monsoon season. Subsequent restoration of collapsed structures, including historic houses is planned.
Architectural drawings exist that provide plans for reconstruction. According to UNESCO, more than 30
monuments in the Kathmandu Valley collapsed in the quakes, and another 120 incurred partial damage. Repair
estimates are $160 million to restore 1,000 damaged and destroyed monasteries, temples, historic houses, and
shrines across the country. The destruction is concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley. Drones fly above cultural
heritage sites to provide 3D images of the damage to use for planning repairs.

Nepal Rural Housing Reconstruction Program

After an international donors conference held in Kathmandu on 25 June 2015 a multi donor trust fund of US$4.4
billion was established to aid the reconstruction of affected housing in 14 districts of Nepal. This covered 66 per
cent of the country's total recovery and reconstruction needs of US$6.7 billion.Implementation of the Program
consisted of five phases i.e. Survey, Identification and Validation, Enrollment, Reconstruction and Completion.
The data collection for the program was done digitally using tablets and resulted in collection of over 10 TB of
data. The data was openly released to the public by the National Planning Commission and is available for
download on their website.
 Disaster Management and Mitigation
Disaster management is a mammoth task, which not confined to any specific location; neither do they
disappear as quickly as they appear. As such, proper management is important tooptimize efficiency of
planning and response.
1. Mitigation: Measures put in place to minimize the results from a disaster. Examples:
building codes and zoning; vulnerability analyses; public education.
2. Preparedness: Planning how to respond. Examples: preparedness plans; emergency
exercises/training; warning systems.
3. Response: Initial actions taken as the event takes place. It involves efforts to minimize the
hazards created by a disaster. Examples: evacuation; search and rescue; emergency relief.
4. Recovery: Returning the community to normal. Ideally, the affected area should be put in a
condition equal to or better than it was before the disaster took place. Examples: temporary
housing; grants; medical care.
 Findings
From the above comprehensive study I have assembled several important aspects, which are
noted below-
1. Loss of many human and cattle lives.
2. Damage and destruction of many human constructions, namely buildings, roads or
highways, bridges,
temples, UNESCO world heritage sites, towns and villages.
3. Earthquake creates landslides which may block the highways, river channels, etc.
4. Earthquake crates different types of avalanches which may kill hundreds of climbers,
trekkers and Nepali
guides at the Everest base camp in Nepal.
5. Earthquakes and continuous aftershocks destroyed the civil structures killing thousands of
people and
injured over twenty-two thousand people in Nepal and northern India
 Conclusion
An earthquake cannot be prevented or accurately predicted, but there are some
forewarning sign of a coming tremor, and there are various system being
developed and in use to reduce the damage from this disaster. However, no
perfect techniques have been developed to predict the tremor till date. Making
exact prediction about the occurrence of a tremor in an area and time is still a
tricky proposition. The seismologists are more and more concentrating on the
aspect of earthquake forecasting. When we would be able to predict of
earthquakes accurately on the basis of animal behavior or other unusual
phenomena, it would save many lives and property damages.
 Bibliography
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edition, 2012.
D.R. Khullar, India – A Comprehensive Geography, New Delhi: Kalyani Publishers, 2006.
Govt. of India: India Meteorological Department, 2015.
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S. Singh, Geomorphology, Allahabad: Prayag Pustak Bhaban, 1998.
D. Nandy, Contemporary Issues and Techniques in Geography, „Mapping of Earthquake
Hazards‟, Edited by- Basu, R., Bhaduri, S.,
Kolkata: Progressive Publishers, 2007, pp. 15-23.
A. K. Ghosh, S. Raychaudhuri, „Recent Development of Disaster Management: An Indian
Perspective‟, Kolkata: Progressive
The End