“Kathmandu, Nepal, ranked first in the 2001 study, followed by Istanbul, Turkey; Delhi, India; Quito, Ecuador; Manila, Philippines; and Islambad/Rawalpindi, Pakistan–all of which could expect fatalities in the tens of thousands if disaster struck. The only first-world cities on the list were in Japan: Tokyo, Nagoya and Kobe. Fatalities in these cities were estimated in the hundreds, not thousands. Port-au-Prince was not on the list.”

http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/13/haiti-earthquake-building-construction-business-logistics-earthquake.html

I believe that 80percent is a gross underestimate: an 8.0 on the Richter scale will wipe out the valley with the death toll dependent on the time of day as indicated in the article. Pointing out the gas fires is a key point. One thing that the article should mention is a simple one: duck and cover. Running out of houses may not do the trick but ducking under a desk, table, or doorframe may prevent injuries from falling bricks (and, possibly, even from “pancaking” houses in catastrophic failures depending on the strength of the table/desk). On the plus side, Kathmandu will have the chance to have a planned city: essentially starting over from the bottom up. This is not meant to be dark humour: it may, indeed, be the only positive we take away from such a devastating experience. Also, let’s hope that such a calamity will offer the chance to unite and help one another as opposed to the current fractious politics. But that’s probably too much to hope for with the Maoists and other political parties quickly holding bandas to protest inefficient government response to such a disaster (assuming there is anything to actually close down).

The situation in Haiti did worry me about the same event occurring in Kathmandu. We must learn from the mistakes of others. We talk about the government being able to draft a plan for such an incident, but in a country where every individual is struggling to get their basic needs fulfilled and the government people trying to hold on to their job, people are just not capable of thinking ahead. But the ones who have future insights or for the NSET (National Society of Earthquake Technology) must commit to stepping up and doing the best they can by the means of educating people or plan their own individual rescue plan.

Mr. Dixit thank you for your duty to bring this topic in the lime light for all the Nepalese readers.

1) Magnitude of 8 early morning at 6 a.m. right after “civilian Supremecists” enforce a bandh. Do you wait for young communist democrats to call the bandh off before relief efforts undergo?

2)Magnitude of 8 on 27th may 11:59:59 pm. CA would have drafted the constitution on time, if it wasn’t for the damn earthquake.

3)Magnitude of 8 anyday, during rush hour. Motorcycle riders would just ride through the rubble, ride over rubble,ride on debris,shovel debris and make way, to get to thier destination as soon as possible, to bypass the traffic jam. Major junctions will have rubbles cleared by these traffic law not abiding junkies: a good start already.

4)Magnitude of 8 one day before doctor’s shut down emergency rooms and hospitals as part of thier whatever agitation. Bummer. They should not have taken the hypocratic oathe at the first place.

It is a well known fact that earthquake exceeding 5.5 in Richter scale will bring devastation. What you have indicated in the writing is nothing new. Anyone who knows some earthquake science knows the pain of earthquake aftermaths.

What people don’t know is the necessity of preparedness prior to the big one. Readers need to be told that they need to have a shed separate from their houses where they store some food, water, digging equipments, few meters of strong ropes ,tents, clothes and some cooking utensils.

Time to prepare is NOW.