Experts stressed on the need for mainstreaming disaster reduction into planning and importance of concerted scientific efforts at a seminar organised at Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi on learning from Nepal earthquake for Indian Himalayas and Gangetic plains.
Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, lok Sabha member from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar constituency and chairman of the Committee on Petitions, Bhagat Singh Koshyari stressed on the need to develop the science of earthquake prediction and early warning systems for the seismically volatile areas of the Himalayas.
Planning Commission of Nepal member Dr. Bimala Rai Paudyal, pointed out that comparatively more women and girls were killed in the Nepal earthquake. Social inequalities magnify earthquake’s impacts and in this case it damaged areas of poor people more, she added. She spoke of how solutions that work in other places may not be appropriate in this region.
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) director general Dr David Molden said that there were 370 aftershocks that shook Nepal and are continuing even now. Not many people know that Kathmandu itself has shifted 3 metres south, he said. Calling Hindu-Kush Himalayas a global asset, he reiterated the concept of ‘build-back better’, as a part of Sendai framework 2015.
In the technical session, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) Dehradun, director Prof Anil Kumar Gupta spoke of how the shifts in disaster reduction should include social components, mainstreaming disaster reduction into planning, integration of Sendai framework Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a move from single-headed approach to a multi-headed, comprehensive approach. Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) director Dr DS Ramesh spoke how the earthquake was not a surprise but had occurred in an anticipated region. There is a possibility that all previously ruptured regions could join together to create a huge earthquake of unprecedented magnitude, he opined. Dr Ranjan Kumar Dahal in his presentation on Gorkha earthquake 2015 and its engineering geological consequences noted that the towns on ridges like Old Chatura are very vulnerable to earthquakes. He warned that ridge cities like Almora, Ranikhet, Mussoorie, Nainital and Darjeeling are also vulnerable. In his presentation preparedness, response and pitfalls in hospitals and medical aid, Dr Jagdish lal Baidya gave an account of the day of the earthquake in his hospital which withstood the earthquake. He elicited focus on the need for evacuation of admitted patients, open spaces in and around the hospital, regular disaster drills including evacuation drills. G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Almora, director and Central Himalayan Environment Association (CHEA) councilor Dr. P. P. Dhyani, INSA senior scientist and CHEA councilor Prof SP Singh were also among those who spoke on the occasion.
