Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Initiatives for earthquake disaster risk management in the Kathmandu Valley

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Situated over the Himalayan tectonic zone, Kathmandu Valley as a lake in geological past has a long history of destructive earthquakes. In recent years, the earthquake risk of the valley has significantly increased due mainly to uncontrolled development, poor construction practices with no earthquake safety consideration, and lack of awareness among the general public and government authorities. Implementation of land use plan and building codes, strengthening of design and construction regulations, relocation of communities in risky areas, and conduction of public awareness programs are suitable means of earthquake disaster risk management practice. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is still lacking earthquake disaster risk management plans. So, this paper highlights some initiatives adopted by both governmental and nongovernmental organizations of Nepal to manage earthquake disaster risk in the Kathmandu Valley. It provides some comprehensive information on recent initiatives of earthquake disaster risk management in the valley and also highlights the outcomes and challenges.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ambraseys N, Bilham R (2000) A note on the Kangra Ms = 7.8 earthquake of 4 April 1905. Curr Sci 79:45–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Ambraseys N, Douglas J (2004) Magnitude calibration of north Indian earthquakes. Geophys J Int 159(1):165–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armijo A, Tapponnier P, Mercier JL, Tonglin H (1986) Quaternary extension in southern Tibet. J Geophys Res 91(13):803–13872

    Google Scholar 

  • Armijo A, Tapponnier P, Tonglin H (1989) Late Cenozoic right-lateral strike-slip faulting in southern Tibet. J Geophys Res 94:2787–2838

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ATC (1984) Comparison of seismic design practices in the United States and Japan, Applied Technology Council Report (ATC-15 report), p 317

  • ATC (1985) Earthquake damage evaluation data for California, Applied Technology Council Report (ATC-13 report), p 492

  • ATC (1992) A model methodology for assessment of seismic vulnerability and impact of disruption of water supply systems, Applied Technology Council Report (ATC-25-1 report), p 147

  • Avouac JP, Tapponnier P (1993) Kinematic model of active deformation in Central Asia. Geophys Res Lett 20(10):895–898

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avouac JP, Bollinger L, Lavé J, Cattin R, Flouzat M (2001) Le cycle sismique en Himalaya. C R Acad Sci 333:513–529

    Google Scholar 

  • BCDP (1994) Building Code Development Project: seismic hazard mapping and risk assessment for Nepal; UNDP/UNCHS (Habitat) Subproject: NEP/88/054/21.03. Min. Housing Phy. Planning, Kathmandu

  • Bilham R (2001) Slow tilt reversal of the Lesser Himalaya between 1862 and 1992 at 78 deg. E, and bounds to the southeast rupture of the 1905 Kangra earthquake. Geophys J Int 144:713–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bilham R, Bodin P, Jackson M (1995) Entertaining a great earthquake in western Nepal: historic inactivity and geodetic tests for the present state of strain. J Nepal Geol Soc 11(1):73–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilham R, Larson KM, Freymueller J, PI Members (1997) GPS measurements of present day convergence across the Nepal Himalaya. Nature (London) 386(6620):61–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chander R (1989) Southern limits of major earthquake ruptures along the Himalaya between 15 deg. E and 90 deg. E. Tectonophysics 170:115–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chatelain J-L, Tucker B, Guillier B, Kaneko F, Yepes H, Fernandez J, Valverde J, Hoefer G, Souris M, Dupérier E, Yamada T, Bustamante G, Villacis C (1999) Earthquake risk management pilot project in Quito, Ecuador. GeoJournal 49:185–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chitrakar GR, Pandey MR (1986) Historical earthquakes of Nepal. Bull Geol Soc Nepal 4:7–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahal RK, Hasegawa S (2008) Representative rainfall thresholds for landslides in the Nepal Himalaya. Geomorphology 100:429–443

    Google Scholar 

  • DeMets C, Gordon RG, Argus DF, Stein S (1990) Current plate motions. Geophys J Int 101:425–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeMets C, Gordon RG, Argus DF, Stein S (1994) Effect of recent revisions to the geomagnetic reversal time scale on current plate motions. Geophys Res Lett 21:2191–2194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn JA, Auden JB, Gosh AMN, Roy SC (1939) The Bihar-Nepal earthquake of 1934. Mem Geol Surv India 73:391

    Google Scholar 

  • Erdik M, Durukal E (2008) Earthquake risk and its mitigation in Istanbul. Nat Hazards 44:181–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta SP (1988) Eastern Nepal earthquake 21 August 1988, damage and recommendations for repairs and reconstruction. Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand

  • Hough SE, Bilham R (2008) Site response of the Ganges basin inferred from re-evaluated macroseismic observations from the 1897 Shillong, 1905 Kangra, and 1934 Nepal earthquakes. J Earth Syst Sci 117(S2):773–782

    Google Scholar 

  • JICA (2002) The study on Earthquake disaster mitigation in the Kathmandu Valley, Kingdom of Nepal, Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal, Vol I, II, and III

  • Molnar P (1984) Structure and tectonics of the Himalaya: constraints and Implications of geophysical data. Ann Rev Earth Planet Sci 12:489–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey MR, Molnar P (1988) The distribution of intensity of the Bihar-Nepal earthquake 15 January 1934 and bounds of the extent of the rupture zone. J Nepal Geol Soc 5:22–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandey MR, Tandukar RP, Avouac JP, Lavé J, Massot JP (1995) Interseismic strain accumulation on the Himalayan crustal ramp (Nepal). Geophys Res Lett 22(7):751–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rai SM, Upreti BN, Guillot S, Pêcher A, Fort PL (2004) Mineral chemistry (biotite, muscovite, garnet, and plagioclase) in the Kathmandu and Gosainkund regions, central Nepal Himalaya. J Nepal Geol Soc 30:55–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Rana BJB (1935) Nepal Ko Maha Bhukampa (Great earthquake of Nepal). Jorganesh Press, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakai H, Fujii R, Kuwahara Y, Upreti BN, Shrestha SD (2001) Core drilling of the basin-fill sediments in the Kathmandu valley for paleoclimatic study: preliminary results. J Nepal Geol Soc 25(Sp):9–18

    Google Scholar 

  • SEAOC (1995) Vision 2000—A framework for performance based design. Structural Engineers Association of California, USA

  • Seeber L, Armbruster J (1981) Great detachment earthquakes along the Himalaya arc and long-term forecasting in earthquake prediction: an international review. Maurice Ewing Ser 4:259–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Seeber L, Armbruster JG, Quittmeyer RC (1981) Seismicity and continental subduction in the Himalayan arc, in Zagros, Hindu-Kush, Himalaya, Geodynamic Evolution. Geodyn Ser 3:215–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stein RS, Yeats RS (1989) Hidden earthquakes. Sci Am 260:48–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyss M (2005) Human losses expected in Himalayan earthquakes. Nat Hazards 34:305–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeats RS, Thakur VC (1998) Reassessment of earthquake hazard based on a fault bend fold model of the Himalayan plate-boundary fault. Curr Sci 74:230–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeats RS, Nakata T, Farah A, Fort M, Mirza MA, Pandey MR, Stein RS (1992) The Himalayan frontal fault system. Annales Tectonicae 6(Sp):85–98

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This paper is an outcome of the last 20 years of work experience in the field of earthquake risk management in the Kathmandu Valley, and it is largely based on the work done by National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal (NSET, Nepal). All research staffs of NSET are sincerely acknowledged for their technical support during the preparation of this paper. Also, the comments provided by three anonymous reviewers have greatly enhanced the quality of this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET), P.O. Box: 13775, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Amod Mani Dixit

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, 3 Bunkyo, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan

    Ryuichi Yatabe & Netra Prakash Bhandary

  3. Department of Geology, Tribhvuan University, Tri-Chandra Campus, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Ranjan Kumar Dahal

Authors
  1. Amod Mani Dixit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryuichi Yatabe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ranjan Kumar Dahal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Netra Prakash Bhandary
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amod Mani Dixit.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dixit, A.M., Yatabe, R., Dahal, R.K. et al. Initiatives for earthquake disaster risk management in the Kathmandu Valley. Nat Hazards 69, 631–654 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0732-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0732-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation