There is urgent need to establish a permanent link, among the cities in different parts of the world which are within earthquake risk zones, for exchanging ideas and experiences.  Simply because, a majority of the world’s population are living in the cities and there is relentless growth of cities and towns all over the world. The global urban population, which stood at 2.4 billion in 1990, is expected to reach 5.5 billion in 2025. In this situation, sharing of each other’s experience, skills, technology and technical capability is essential among cities. Besides this, in this age of globalization exchange of information has been easier and faster as compared to the past. We all live in this planet and as a citizens, we should care for each other. Co-existence, these days, is becoming meaningful because the world is shrinking.
When we talk about sharing ideas and information, allow me to share with you some historical facts on the major Earthquake disasters that occurred in Nepalese history. As per the recorded information, I have been able to collect so far, about major earthquakes dates back to 1254 AD After this earthquake, other major earthquakes, causing sever damage, were recorded in 1260, 1408, 1681, 1682, 1810, 1824, 1834, 1835, 1840 and the last devastating earthquake was in 1934.  It shows that from 1254 AD onwards there had been 11 major earthquakes in Nepal besides numerous earthquakes of smaller magnitude. 

I think it is relevant to mention some facts on the 1934 earthquake of Nepal. This earthquake killed 4296 people in Kathmandu valley. Out of which 1328 persons died in Bhaktapur, only 724 people were killed in Kathmandu and the highest number of 2244 persons died in Lalitpur because of this earthquake. Altogether 8519 persons died inside whole countries on that incident.

In 1934 earthquake 4084 houses were completely damage in Kathmandu valley, 1000 houses in Patan, 725 in Kathmandu and 2359, the highest number in Bhaktapur. 10,168 houses were severely damaged by this earthquake. 4170 in Patan, 3735 in Kathmandu and 2263 in Bhaktapur. 9,431 houses were slightly damaged by this earthquake in Kathmandu valley. 3860 in Patan, 4146 houses in Kathmandu and 1425 houses in Bhaktapur.

All, who had been living in Kathmandu for more than 50 years have experienced the horrifying rumor of devastating earthquake in 1962. Almost whole population of the valley spent many weeks outdoors because of the rumor. I have also passed through those horrifying days in 1962. It was very interesting to note, during this incident that lots of local people in all three cities, performed spiritual practices and offered Puja to Gods and various deities. All religious shrines were seen overcrowded with people with deep faith on divine energy. Since no earthquake occurred in 1962, people felt great relief and believed that  because of the offerings and Puja Gods, who were very generous, avoided this terrible incident.

The deep faith in religious practice has psychological impact on common people of the valley on that occasion. Since Nepal is believed to be dwelled by 330 Million different Gods and Goddesses, in a country with 23 million populations, it seems to me that the Gods had been very generous to their followers during those days.

Obviously, we cannot just sit down and pray for god to avoid such terrible disaster like earthquake. We have to take measures to minimize the risk of such incidents and for this reason meeting and symposiums like this is needed to be organized more frequently for identifying the areas to be taken seriously by various stakeholders of the society in case of an earthquake. The symposium jointly organized by Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City and NSET yesterday has been a very successful in its objective. There are many areas we have to initiate on community level in cities like Lalitpur for minimizing public lives and property in case of earthquake. Since Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City, over the years, has developed a strong community groups inside the core area, the more vulnerable part of the city, an effective campaign on minimizing risk from earthquake can be run with support form experts in this field and organization like Nepal Society for Earthquake Technology. In the days to come I would like to share ideas with experts from NSET as well as other relevant institutions to develop and implement such programs in all 22 wards of Lalitpur City.

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