Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but many losses can be reduced through preparation.

Kathmandu Earthquake Preparedness: A Wake-Up Call

Safer buildings, prepared families and resilient communities

Important context: This article updates an older pre-2015 editorial. The 2015 Gorkha earthquake showed the devastating reality of seismic risk in Nepal. The purpose here is practical preparedness, not fear: strengthen buildings, know what to do and help communities prepare together.

In this article

1. Why Kathmandu remains at risk
2. Safe buildings save lives
3. Prepare your household
4. What to do during an earthquake
5. What to do after shaking stops
6. Community and public responsibility
7. Faith, responsibility and hope

Why Kathmandu remains at risk

Nepal sits in an active seismic region where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates interact. Earthquakes are natural events, but large disasters are shaped by human choices: unsafe construction, weak enforcement, crowded neighbourhoods, blocked roads, poor emergency access and lack of household preparation.

The 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake was a major historical warning. The 2015 Gorkha earthquake brought this risk painfully close again, causing widespread loss of life, injury, displacement and damage. Its lesson is not that disasters are inevitable in the same form. Its lesson is that preparedness has to be continuous.

Remember: earthquakes do not usually kill people directly. Collapsing buildings, falling objects, fires, blocked exits and delayed rescue create much of the danger. Safer choices can save lives.

Safe buildings save lives

Building codes, engineering review and retrofit programmes are not bureaucratic extras. They are public safety tools. New buildings should follow seismic design standards, while older high-risk homes, schools, hospitals and public buildings need assessment by qualified engineers.

Do not assume a building is safe because it looks solid. Heavy roofs, weak columns, poor-quality materials, unplanned extra floors and unsafe alterations can create serious risks. Homeowners should seek accredited structural advice before adding floors or removing walls.

Preparedness is not a lack of faith

Taking precautions is part of responsibility. We trust Allah while also using the means He has made available: knowledge, planning, good construction and mutual care.

Prepare your household

Every family should agree on a simple plan before an emergency. Choose a safe meeting place, identify exits, keep a contact outside the area and make sure children know basic safety steps. Practise the plan gently so it becomes familiar rather than frightening.

A small emergency kit and a clear family plan can make the first hours safer.

• Keep an emergency kit: water, non-perishable food, torch, batteries, first-aid supplies, medicines, whistle, masks, warm clothing and copies of documents.
• Secure the home: fasten heavy shelves, mirrors, water heaters and large furniture; keep heavy items low.
• Learn utilities: know how to turn off gas, electricity and water if it is safe to do so.
• Plan for neighbours: include elderly people, children, people with disabilities and anyone who may need help.

What to do during an earthquake

If you are indoors, drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table or beside a protected interior area, and hold on. Stay away from windows, glass and heavy objects that may fall. Do not rush outside during shaking unless there is an immediate danger and a safe exit is clear.

If you are outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings, walls, poles and wires. If you are driving, pull over safely away from bridges, flyovers and power lines, then stay in the vehicle until shaking stops. Follow local emergency guidance where available.

What to do after shaking stops

Expect aftershocks. Check yourself and others for injury, provide first aid if trained, and move carefully to a safe open location. Do not enter a visibly damaged building. Use messages instead of calls where possible so networks remain available for emergencies. Check official government, emergency service and verified local news updates, not rumours forwarded on social media.

Be particularly careful around damaged electrical wires, gas leaks, unstable walls and unsafe water. Help neighbours calmly, but do not become another casualty by entering dangerous structures without training.

Community and public responsibility

Preparedness cannot sit only with individuals. Municipal authorities, developers, engineers, schools, hospitals and community organisations all have responsibilities. Schools should run age-appropriate drills. Health facilities need continuity plans. Local governments need open evacuation routes, trained responders, reliable information systems and enforcement that does not disappear after a disaster leaves the headlines.

Communities can organise local mapping of safe spaces, vulnerable households, water points and first-aid skills. These small networks are often the first line of help before outside rescue arrives.

Faith, responsibility and hope

Natural disasters can leave people frightened and grieving. Faith gives space for dua, patience, charity and care for those who have lost everything. It should never be used to blame victims or to excuse unsafe practices. A believer responds with mercy and responsibility.

Preparedness is a form of service. Strengthening a school, checking a neighbour’s safety plan, learning first aid or storing clean water may one day protect a life. Kathmandu’s future is not decided by fear. It is shaped by practical action taken now.