There were 78 earthquakes greater than magnitude 4 in two and a half years, compared to 46 earthquakes in seven years before that.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit Gotri in Jagannath Rural Municipality of Bajura on December 6, destroying 108 houses and partially damaging 460 houses. A dozen families of Jagannath-5 Darzi tol are taking shelter under Tripal because they cannot stay at home.
Since the Bajura earthquake, Darchula, Jajarkot and Baitadi have also experienced earthquakes of magnitude above four. Even before that, there have been many earthquakes with epicenters in Far West and Karnali provinces.
According to Earthquake Measurement Center Surkhet, there have been 8 earthquakes above magnitude 4 this year till December 16 in Far West and Karnali. There are 51 earthquakes in 2080 and 19 earthquakes in 2079. While before that, earthquakes larger than magnitude 4 occurred in those two provinces 46 times in seven years. Similarly, from October 15, 2079 to Tuesday, the number of earthquakes of magnitude 2 to 6 is 3,246.
In a period of two and a half years, there have been three earthquakes above magnitude 6. 157 people died and more than 60,000 houses were destroyed when an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck Jajarkot in Karnali on November 17 last year.
A month before that, on October 16, 2080, an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude occurred in Bajhang in Far West, and one person died. On October 22, 2079, an earthquake of 6.6 magnitude struck Doti, killing 6 people.
In a period of two and a half years since April 2080, earthquakes of magnitude 5 to 6 occurred seven times in Bajhang, said Chintan Timilsina, head of the Earthquake Measurement Center Surkhet.
Lok Bahadur Bista, an associate professor of geography at Kailali Multipurpose Campus, says that the earthquake may indicate a great risk as it is currently moving to Far West and Karnali. "Various studies have shown that there is a lot of energy stored in the ground of this region," he said, "A devastating earthquake can occur at any time. Precaution is needed.
Monica Jha, the spokesperson of the Department of Mines and Geology, also said that vigilance is necessary because there is a risk of a large earthquake in the western region. "It's been 517 years since there was a big earthquake in the region from Gorkha to Dehradun in West India," she said, "There is a lot of power stored in that region."
Keshav Bhatt, who has been working to reduce the risk of earthquakes, says that building codes are very necessary for local levels. “The mountain houses are weak. There is more load on the roof. But there is no necessary vigilance,' he said, 'it is also necessary to retrofit old buildings.'
Gauri Budhathoki, the information management officer of the emergency operation center under the state government, informed that the responsibilities have been distributed in such a way that all the ministries will work in an integrated way after looking at the possible risks and making a disaster management plan.
Experts have been pointing out that the Far West is an area of seismic risk. That's why preparatory programs are being conducted," she said, "We are regularizing planning, manpower management, etc.
