The boundary region of the India and
It has been observed that several large
Eurasia plates has a history of large and
valley-blocking landslides mostly comprise
great earthquakes. Prior to April 25, four
comparatively small rockfalls and debris
events of M6 or larger magnitude had
avalanches that have a significant local
occurred within 250 km of this area over the
impact and loss of life. The need to plan
past century. One, a M 6.9 earthquake in
measures to mitigate landslide deaths and
August 1988, 140 km to the south-southeast
disruption in the forthcoming monsoon
of the May 12 event, caused close to 1500
season must remain a priority. Many more
death. The largest, an M 8.0 event known as
damaging landslides may occur in the 2015
the 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake, ruptured a
monsoon, likely to start in late June, than
large section of the fault to the south of this
would be expected if a major earthquake had
May 2015 event, and east of the April 2015
not occurred.
main shock, in a similar location to the 1988
earthquake.
It
severely
damaged
Kathmandu, and is thought to have caused
around 10,600 death. Prior to the 20th
century, a large earthquake in 1833 is
thought to have taken place near the same
area as the April 25, event. Till date, close to
hundred and more aftershocks of the Gorkha
Hundreds of people might be missing in
landslides, triggered by the devastating
earthquake.
The
whole
of
Mailung
settlement, which lies between Dandagaun
and Haku VDCs in Rasuwa district were
buried under landslide. Rescuers have fished
out 12 bodies from the debris as of 10th May
earthquake have taken place there. In the
2015. Locals said around 250 workers and
first two hours after the May 12 event, six
locals at the 60 megawatt Upper Trishuli
further aftershocks have occurred, to the
hill, a hydroelectricity project and on its
southwest-to-southeast of that earthquake.
access road have been buried in landslides.
A number of major or disruptive landsliding
has taken place followed by the earthquake
approx. parallel to the transition between the
Lesser and High Himalayas. This zone
includes parts of the districts of Gorkha,
Dhading,
Nuwakot,
Rasuwa