Undeniably man has rendered hapless before monstrous natural calamities that have ever hit hard civilian population and ruined well built cities. The calamities such as cyclone, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, massive floods have turned catastrophic claiming thousands of lives. It is an absolute finding, these calamities can not be prevented, but bringing pragmatic measures into use, both human and infrastructural losses can be restrained to a maximum. Nonetheless, earthquake has been the worst most catastrophic disaster, claiming the precious lives of hundreds and thousands of people.
It was an unfortunate Saturday’s morning when a powerful earthquake of at least 7.8 magnitudes rocked Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Unluckily, the earthquake struck just before noon and an aftershock measuring 6.6 hit about an hour later. Smaller aftershocks continued to ripple through the region for a number of hours. The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. The hospitals were full of injured, handicapped and dead bodies. The paramedic staff ran short extending services to numerous brutally injured patients.
The earthquake ripped through many historic monuments and viewable sites. According to credible media sources, the worst damage was reported in Kathmandu, where the historic nine-storey Dharahara tower, a major tourist attraction, was among the buildings brought down. The Dharara Tower, built in 1832, had been open to visitors for the last 10 years and had a viewing balcony on its eighth floor. The historic tower built in the 19th century in Kathmandu collapsed, trapping at least 50 people, Nepalese media reported. Reportedly, the earthquake also damaged historical landmarks, including the UNESCO World Heritage temples at Basantapur Durbar Square and the Dharara tower – both of which are in Kathmandu. One can roughly estimate the earthquake wreaked the infrastructure worth of billion dollars and thousand of precious human lives, is certainly an irreparable loss.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the trivial quake struck 77 kilometres (48 miles) northwest of Kathmandu at 06:11 GMT, with walls crumbling and families racing outside their homes. USGS initially measured the quake at 7.5 magnitudes and later adjusted it to 7.8, with a depth of 15 kilometers. It said in a predictor graphic that there was a 17 percent chance the quake could claim more than 100,000 lives. Factually the area has a history of earthquakes, with a 6.8 magnitude quake that hit eastern Nepal in August 1988 killing 721 people. A magnitude 8.1 quake killed 10,700 people in Nepal and eastern India in 1934. A 1934 quake of magnitude 8.3 in the impoverished Himalayan nation killed over 8,500 people.
The massive earthquake killed more than 900 people, as it ripped through large parts of Nepal, toppling office blocks and towers in Kathmandu and triggering a deadly avalanche that hit Everest base camp. Initially, the death toll was expected to rise significantly as Kathmandu’s decrepit buildings, crisscrossed by narrow alleys, are home to large families. The local officials said 10 people were killed when an avalanche buried parts of Mount Everest’s base camp in Nepal where hundreds of mountaineers have gathered at the start of the annual climbing season. According to local officials, at least 876 people were known to have died in Nepal, making it the worst earthquake there in more than 80 years.
The jolt of earthquake was pretty gigantic effecting the neighboring India, China and Bangladesh that likely witnessed more than two dozen people reportedly killed. It is said that at least 34 people were known to have died in India, including 23 in the eastern state of Bihar, while buildings in the capital New Delhi had to be evacuated. China’s official Xinhua news agency claimed that two people, including an 83-year-old woman, were killed in the Tibet region.
Following the tragic jolt many world leaders extended their grievances with the premier and people of Nepal. Earlier, President Ashraf Ghani passed on his condolences to the victims of the disaster. He expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives. In a message to the public his office said Ghani "offers his heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families affected by the earthquake". The people of Afghanistan are equally sympathizing with relatives of survivors of victims of Saturday’s earthquake that left countless valuable lives.
Responding at the calamity the humanitarian organizations and neighboring countries have extended moral, technical and financial support to Nepali government. India dispatched two military transport planes to help with the rescue and relief efforts and there were similar offers from around the region, including Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The earthquake measuring 7.9 magnitude left buildings collapsed, injured many and left a pall of dust over the city, witnesses said.
The quake tore through the middle of highways in the capital and also caused damage to the country’s only international airport, in a potential blow to relief efforts. The airport’s general manager, Birendra Prasad Shrestha, said it would remain closed “for safety reasons” at least until later in the afternoon.
At the main hospital in Kathmandu, people with broken limbs and arms were being rushed in for treatment. A Reuters reporter in Kathmandu said he had seen some buildings collapse and walls of several houses reduced to rubble.