7 Years of 2015 Gorkha earthquake
Today marks the 7th memorial day of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. The quake with its epicenter on Barpark in the Gorkha district had jolted the country at 11:56 am on this day seven years ago. Over 9,000 persons lost their lives while more than 22,000 people were injured in the quake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale over 900,000 personal houses were damaged in the quake.
Although 32 districts in the country were affected by the quake, mostly 14 of them were the hardest hit such as Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Kathmandu, Lalitpur among others. Most casualties were recorded in the Sindupalchowk district.
The quake had incurred damages to 7,553 schools, 920 cultural heritages, 1,197 health institutions, 415 government office buildings, and 194 buildings belonging to the security agencies. Similarly, the damage was also incurred on the 762-kilometer of road and more than 1,000 drinking water structures.
The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing 22, making 25 April 2015 the deadliest day on the mountain in history. The earthquake triggered another huge avalanche in the Langtang valley, where 250 people were reported missing. Hundreds of thousands of Nepalese were made homeless with entire villages flattened, across many districts of the country.
Centuries-old buildings were destroyed at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, including some at the Kathmandu Durbar Square, the Patan Durbar Square, the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the Changu Narayan Temple, the Boudhanath stupa, and the Swayambhunath stupa.
It was the worst natural disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 earthquake popularly known as “Nabbe Saal ko Maha Bhukampa”
THE EARTHQUAKE OF 2015
BHAKTAPUR, NEPAL – APRIL 29: A general view of damaged buildings as Nepalese victims of the earthquake search for their belongings on April 29, 2015 in Bhaktapur, Nepal. A major 7.8 earthquake hit Kathmandu mid-day on Saturday, and was followed by multiple aftershocks that triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest that buried mountain climbers in their base camps. Many houses, buildings and temples in the capital were destroyed during the earthquake, leaving over 4600 dead and many more trapped under the debris as emergency rescue workers attempt to clear debris and find survivors. Regular aftershocks have hampered recovery missions as locals, officials and aid workers attempt to recover bodies from the rubble. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
KATHMANDU, NEPAL – APRIL 25: Emergency rescue workers clear debris in Basantapur Durbar Square while searching for survivors on April 25, 2015 in Kathmandu, Nepal. More than 100 people have died as tremors hit Nepal after an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale caused buildings to collapse and avalanches to be triggered in the Himalayas. Authorities have warned that the death toll is likely to be much higher. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)
KATHMANDU, NEPAL – APRIL 26: Local people and soldiers inspect debris of destroyed buildings after a powerful earthquake hits Katmandu, Nepal on April 26, 2015. The death toll in Nepal climbed towards 2,500 on Sunday as rescuers unearthed the victims of a powerful earthquake. There have been 773 people killed in Nepals densely-populated capital Kathmandu, while the Himalayan nations central region, close to the epicenter of Saturdays 7.8-magnitude quake, has seen 1,055 deaths. (Photo by Sunil Pradhan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
KATHMANDU, NEPAL – APRIL 26: The cracks on the roads after a powerful earthquake hits Katmandu, Nepal on April 26, 2015. The death toll in Nepal climbed towards 2,500 on Sunday as rescuers unearthed the victims of a powerful earthquake. There have been 773 people killed in Nepals densely-populated capital Kathmandu, while the Himalayan nations central region, close to the epicenter of Saturdays 7.8-magnitude quake, has seen 1,055 deaths. (Photo by Sunil Pradhan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
KATHMANDU, NEPAL – APRIL 27: A volunteer walks on top of the debris of a collapsed temple at Basantapur Durbar Square on April 27, 2015 in Kathmandu, Nepal. A major 7.8 earthquake hit Kathmandu mid-day on Saturday, and was followed by multiple aftershocks that triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest that buried mountain climbers in their base camps. Many houses, buildings and temples in the capital were destroyed during the earthquake, leaving over 3000 dead and many more trapped under the debris as emergency rescue workers attempt to clear debris and find survivors. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)
BHAKTAPUR, NEPAL – APRIL 29: A general view of damaged buildings as Nepalese victims of the earthquake search for their belongings on April 29, 2015 in Bhaktapur, Nepal. A major 7.8 earthquake hit Kathmandu mid-day on Saturday, and was followed by multiple aftershocks that triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest that buried mountain climbers in their base camps. Many houses, buildings and temples in the capital were destroyed during the earthquake, leaving over 4600 dead and many more trapped under the debris as emergency rescue workers attempt to clear debris and find survivors. Regular aftershocks have hampered recovery missions as locals, officials and aid workers attempt to recover bodies from the rubble. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BHAKTAPUR, NEPAL – APRIL 29: Nepalese victims of the earthquake search for their belongings among debris of their homes on April 29, 2015 in Bhaktapur, Nepal. A major 7.8 earthquake hit Kathmandu mid-day on Saturday, and was followed by multiple aftershocks that triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest that buried mountain climbers in their base camps. Many houses, buildings and temples in the capital were destroyed during the earthquake, leaving over 4600 dead and many more trapped under the debris as emergency rescue workers attempt to clear debris and find survivors. Regular aftershocks have hampered recovery missions as locals, officials and aid workers attempt to recover bodies from the rubble. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BHAKTAPUR, NEPAL – APRIL 29: Nepalese earthquake victims take a break as they search for their belongings among debris of their home on April 29, 2015 in Bhaktapur, Nepal. A major 7.8 earthquake hit Kathmandu mid-day on Saturday, and was followed by multiple aftershocks that triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest that buried mountain climbers in their base camps. Many houses, buildings and temples in the capital were destroyed during the earthquake, leaving over 5000 dead and many more trapped under the debris, as emergency rescue workers attempt to clear debris and find survivors. Regular aftershocks have hampered recovery missions as locals, officials and aid workers attempt to recover bodies from the rubble. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
SINDHUPALCHOK, NEPAL – MAY 03: Nepali victims of the earthquake flee from their homes on Arakani road May 3, 2015 in Sindhupalchok, Nepal. The road from Bahrabise to Lipim, the last Nepali village before the Tibetan Chinese border, is blocked because of huge landslides and the only access is by helicopter. The Chinese goverment has closed the border, preventing rescue teams from reaching the area. Approximately 80 percent of the houses in rural villages, although still standing, are uninhabitable due to damage. A major 7.9 earthquake hit Kathmandu nine days ago, followed by multiple aftershocks that triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest, burying some mountain climbers in their base camps. More than 7,200 are known dead from the quake and more than 15,000 injured. (Photo by Borja Sanchez-Trillo/Getty Images)
