According to
US Geological survey a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.8 on Richter scale and
a series of aftershocks struck Nepal today with its epicentre laying near 35km
E of Lamjung, Nepal. The quakes also
jolted parts of North and Northeast India. Widespread damage has been reported
from Nepal. The April 25, 2015 ‘M 7.8
Nepal earthquake’ occurred as the result of thrust faulting on or near the main
frontal thrust between the subducting India plate and the overriding Eurasia
plate to the north. At the location of this earthquake, approximately 80 km to
the northeast of the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, the India plate is
converging with Eurasia at a rate of 45 mm/yr towards the north-northeast,
driving the uplift of the Himalayan mountain range. The preliminary location,
size and focal mechanism of the April 25 earthquake are consistent with its
occurrence on the main subduction thrust interface between the India and
Eurasia plates.
Seismicity in
the Himalaya dominantly results from the continental collision of the India and
Eurasia plates, which are converging at a relative rate of 40-50 mm/yr.
Northward underthrusting of India beneath Eurasia generates numerous
earthquakes and consequently makes this area one of the most seismically
hazardous regions on Earth. The surface expression of the plate boundary is
marked by the foothills of the north-south trending Sulaiman Range in the west,
the Indo-Burmese Arc in the east and the east-west trending Himalaya Front in
the north of India.
Tremors were felt across the
region, with further loss of life in India, Bangladesh and on Mount Everest. The Nepalese Govt has declared a state of
emergency in the affected areas. Nepali Information Minister Minendra Rijal
said there had been "massive damage" at the epicentre, from where
little information is emerging. Deputy
Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam has appealed for international humanitarian
assistance.
The ancient Dharhara tower -
which is one of the most prominent buildings to have collapsed in the heart of
Kathmandu’s historic old city - was one of the city’s biggest tourist
attractions. The white nine-storey tower was once the place where kings were
once crowned. The Dharhara tower has now been reduced to just its base when the
earthquake struck.
Dharahara in Kathmandu was
the second such tower built by Bhimsen Thapa. The first tower was built eight
years earlier in 1824 and was 11 stories high, two stories taller than the
Dharahara. Dharahara is said to be built for Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari, who
was the niece of Bhimsen Thapa. During the earthquake of 1834, both towers
survived, but the first Bhimsen's tower suffered severe damage. A hundred years
later, on 15 January 1934, another earthquake completely destroyed the
Bhimsen's first tower. Only two of the 11 stories on the second tower remained.
The then Prime Minister of Nepal, Juddha Shumsher carried out the renovation
work of the Dharahara tower to restore it to its previous form. While the
original Bhimsen Tower was obliterated, Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari's tower got
its name, 'Bhimsen Stambha' or 'Bhimsen Tower'.
Google has launched a
'person finder' for worries friends, relatives and collagues of people
potentially caught up in the Nepal earthquake.
There have been devastating
tremors in Nepal earlier and one prays that the death toll and devastation is
much lesser. Sad for the people of
Nepal.
With grief – S. Sampathkumar
25th Apr 2015.
