A year has passed since the Nepal earthquake which killed as many as 9000 people. The tremors shook even parts of India killing 102 people and pulling down about 13,000 houses. It shows that the calamity was not confined by boundaries. Communication between neighbouring countries has to be expanded to minimize the risk of earthquakes. It will be folly for India to play down the crisis in the Himalayan region. The government of India has recently added 81 new cities and towns to a list of urban areas vulnerable to earthquakes of very severe intensity. Earthquakes kill people. But what causes these earthquakes? It is mainly the faulty construction of buildings done by people themselves. A Survey of the National Disaster Management Authority has found that in the past 25 years, more than 25000 persons have been killed in earthquakes. The Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat in 2001 was the most severe in recent times and it cast a shadow of death over the whole area. Buildings went down like houses of cards. India now has a range of seismic specifications covering a variety of structures which is satisfactory. These structures include mud or low strength masonry houses as well as modern buildings.
New building codes have been drawn up for new constructions. But existing buildings also need to be made earthquake resistant. Engineers trained to handle such jobs are in short supply. The subject is not taught at the undergraduate level in engineering courses. The need for safer buildings is a must and the memory of the Nepal earthquake should be a salutary lesson.
