Expert urge to brace for bigger earthquake in future

KATHMANDU, Nov 5: The death toll from Friday night’s earthquake in western Nepal has climbed to 143. The earthquake of magnitude 6.4 had jolted Jajarkot at 11:47 PM on Friday night, severely affecting the remote hill district as well as neighboring Rukum West. The shallow quake with its epicenter located at Ramidanda of Barekot Rural Municipality in Jajarkot was felt as far as the federal capital Kathmandu and even 600 kilometers away in the Indian capital, New Delhi.

According to the updated information provided by the Nepal Police on Saturday evening, a total of 157 people have died in the earthquake, and 197 people have sustained injuries.

Among them, at least 105 people lost their lives in Jajarkot alone while 85 individuals were injured. Similarly, in Rukum West, the quake killed 52 people and injured 85 others, as per the latest data.

All three major security agencies – the Nepalese Army, the Armed Police Force (APF) and the Nepal Police – are actively involved in rescue operations.

Nepal Police said that 859 policemen have been mobilized for relief, rescue, and search operations in the earthquake-affected areas, while more policemen have been kept standby for deployment if needed. Similarly, the Armed Police Force and the Nepalese Army personnel have also deployed in the earthquake-affected areas.

Seven injured people were airlifted to Kathmandu by a Nepal Airlines Corporation aircraft and were admitted to the TU Teaching Hospital for treatment. Other injured are being treated at Nepalgunj-based Bheri Hospital. According to the former director of the hospital Dr Badri Chapagain, the hospital has the capacity to treat up to 80 people in beds.

Following the earthquake, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal rushed to the earthquake-affected area on Saturday morning on an army helicopter to take stock of the situation and met the victims. He was accompanied by a medical team of the Nepalese Army. 

PM Dahal later returned by a regular flight, leaving the helicopter of the Nepalese Army for rescue operations. While returning to Surkhet from Jajarkot, PM Dahal brought seven injured people and their family members along with him. Dahal had called a meeting of the Council of Ministers at 8AM on Saturday to address the issue of the earthquake.

Help from government and various agencies pours in

The federal government has authorized the immediate disbursement of Rs 100 million to aid the earthquake victims. Additionally, various other entities, including the provincial government, political parties, and the private sector, have also committed to providing financial and other necessary assistance to the earthquake victims.

The Bagmati Province and Lumbini Province governments have announced financial assistance of Rs 15 million each, while Sudur Paschim and Koshi provinces have pledged financial assistance of Rs 10 million each for the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation of earthquake victims in Jajarkot and Rukum West. Tilottama Municipality of Rupandehi has also decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 1 million to the earthquake-affected Jajarkot and Rukum West.

Furthermore, Nepali Congress has pledged Rs 5 million, CPN-UML Madesh Province chapter will contribute Rs 300,000, and the Communist Party of Nepal has decided to provide about 25 quintals of rice from the party's food store to the earthquake victims. Similarly, Buddha Air has also decided to contribute Rs 10 million to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund and pledged to assist in the transportation of rescue and relief materials. Likewise, Ncell has pledged Rs 5 million to the quake victims.

Similarly, the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has also established a relief fund of Rs 11 million. The International Coordination Council, during its meeting, decided to immediately contribute Rs 1 million to the government's relief fund and allocate the remaining Rs 10 million for relief materials to be delivered to the affected areas on the upcoming Saturday. A relief distribution committee will be established under the coordination of President Dr. Badri KC. In the initial phase, food and clothing will be distributed to 400 families in Jajarkot and Rukum West, with each family receiving Rs 10,000 worth of assistance.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced that 50% of the proceeds from ticket sales of the final match between Nepal and Oman, scheduled for Sunday under the Asian selection of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, will be donated to the earthquake victims.

The government has also arranged free bus services to facilitate the transportation of relatives to the earthquake-affected areas of Jajarkot and Rukum (West) from Kathmandu.

Nepal Telecom to provide free services

Nepal Telecom will offer free telephone, SMS, and Wi-Fi services for five days in the earthquake-affected areas of Jajarkot and Rukum East and West. A meeting held at the ministry on Saturday, chaired by the Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, decided to provide free calls and messages for five days in the affected areas. Additionally, the state-owned telecom company will distribute new SIM cards with free telephone, SMS, and Wi-Fi services in the affected areas. These services are expected to be available at Surkhet, Rukum East and West, and Jajarkot offices of Nepal Telecom.

Nalgadh municipality Deputy Mayor dies in Jajarkot earthquake

The earthquake claimed the life of Deputy Mayor Sarita Singh of Nalgadh Municipality in Jajarkot.

Karnali Province Police Chief DIG Bhim Dhakal provided this information, stating that Deputy Mayor Singh passed away during the earthquake while she was asleep at her residence in the municipality's headquarters.

Deputy Mayor Sarita Singh was elected from the Nepali Congress party.

Global support pours in

The international community has extended its solidarity and support to Nepal in the wake of the recent earthquake. Several countries, including India, China, Russia, and the USA, have offered assistance.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extensive damage in Nepal. He conveyed India's unwavering solidarity with the people of Nepal and offered any necessary assistance.

The Chinese government announced the provision of materials worth Rs 100 million to the earthquake-affected areas, including tents and blankets from the China South Asian Countries Emergency Supplies Reserve. These materials are expected to arrive within the next few days.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed his condolences for the earthquake's impact in Jajarkot and offered support and sympathy to the affected Nepali people, wishing for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The United States Embassy in Kathmandu expressed its deep sadness over the loss of lives in the earthquake and affirmed the readiness of the USA to assist Nepal in its recovery from this tragic event.

Expert warns of bigger earthquake

According to seismologists, this earthquake is typically categorized as moderate, causing damage up to house collapses with low human casualties. However, the actual damage this time exceeded expectations, highlighting the weakness of our structures. 

Dr Lok Bijay Adhikari, a senior seismologist at the National Earthquake Monitoring & Research Center, noted that weaker structures struggle to withstand smaller shocks, as seen in this case, especially when the earthquake struck at night, catching people off guard inside these vulnerable buildings.

NSET President Dr Amod Mani Dixit said that people need to prepare for bigger earthquakes. “Another earthquake may occur in the Jajarkot area. In 1,505 there was a big earthquake. Even after 500 years of the catastrophic quake, no major earthquake has occurred in the region between Gorkha and West Kangada. Therefore, we should prepare for the possibility of another big earthquake at any time,” he said.

Dr Dixit also said that earthquakes of magnitude 6 and 7 are common, and we must brace for them as they occur more frequently than magnitude 8 earthquakes. 

“In case of Jajarkot earthquake, if there was stronger infrastructure there, the earthquake at night would have been a normal occurrence with very few casualties and damage,” he said adding, “When we anticipate an 8 Richter scale earthquake, a 6 Richter scale tremor becomes a regular event.”

 
• earthquake
 
• Jajarkot