KATHMANDU, April 26: A photo exhibition was organized in Barpak, the epicenter of the Gorkha earthquake, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the devastating 2015 disaster that killed nearly 9,000 people.
At the exhibition, *Barpak Earthquake Photo Exhibition*, photojournalist Prakash Chandra Timalsena displayed 60 photographs. Captured over the past ten years, the images portray the hardships faced by earthquake survivors, their struggles to rebuild homes, and the socio-economic impacts experienced by this ethnic Gurung village, known for sending soldiers to the British and Indian armies.
The exhibition was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. A total of 60 photographs were on display.
Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey, Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, and Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality Chairman Bishnu Prasad Bhatta were also present at the inauguration.
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Inaugurating the exhibition, Chairman Dahal pledged to provide adequate support to complete the remaining reconstruction of physical structures damaged by the earthquake. He praised the courage, resilience, and determination shown by survivors in overcoming the disaster.
Dahal noted that although much of the reconstruction has been completed, people are still facing challenges in areas such as education, healthcare, drinking water, roads, infrastructure, and employment.
Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey admitted that post-earthquake reconstruction efforts were unsatisfactory. He said, “We could not restore Barpak to its pre-earthquake state. We failed to build the kind of infrastructure needed to attract tourists. It looks good, but the originality of Barpak has been lost.”
Chief Minister Pandey emphasized the need to learn from the earthquake and to be better prepared for future disasters.
Chairman of Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality, Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, said the local government is working to boost tourism and increase the income of residents following reconstruction. He noted that while the appearance of Barpak has changed significantly since the earthquake, some positive developments have accompanied the destruction.
The Nepal Tourism Board is the main promoter of the photo exhibition, with support from Arghakhanchi Cement, Agricultural Development Bank, Global IME Bank, and Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality.
All the photographs, according to Timalsena, will be handed over to the Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality. The local government plans to display them in the earthquake museum currently under construction in Barpak.
Timalsena said the main objective of the exhibition is to highlight, through photographs, the importance of building earthquake-resistant structures. He added that the exhibition aims to communicate the post-reconstruction reality of Barpak both domestically and internationally. He expressed hope that the exhibition would help promote Barpak as a tourist destination.
In Barpak alone, 72 people lost their lives in the earthquake. Over 22,000 people were injured, and 2.8 million were rendered homeless across the country. The earthquake also caused damage worth billions of rupees to cultural heritage sites, roads, hydropower projects, and other infrastructure.
