The Nepal Geotechnical Society (NGS) marked its 31st anniversary with a symposium focused on disaster resilience and geotechnical challenges, reflecting on the decade since the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. The event, held at The Plaza in Pulchowk, brought together engineers, geoscientists, urban planners, researchers, policy-makers, and representatives from government and professional institutions.
Themed “Geohazards and Geotechnics: Ten Years of Learnings and Rebuilding from the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake,” the symposium reviewed Nepal’s reconstruction efforts and emphasized the need for greater preparedness and innovation in geotechnical practices.
Key sessions included a presidential keynote by NGS President Mandip Subedi, who discussed lessons from the past decade and highlighted gaps in risk-sensitive development and seismic resilience. Technical memorial lectures by Lok Bijaya Adhikari and Narayan Marasini focused on seismic data trends, soil behavior, and engineering responses to recent disasters.
A high-level panel discussion moderated by Prof Netra Prakash Bhandary explored the theme “What have we learned and what do we still need to learn from the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake?” Panelists addressed progress in institutional and policy frameworks, while also cautioning against emerging risks such as unplanned urban expansion and climate-induced hazards.
The event also featured the announcement of GeoMandu 2026, the third edition of NGS’s international conference series. The second GeoMandu, held in 2024, saw participation from around 500 attendees, including 200 international delegates. Four volumes of conference proceedings, comprising over 120 technical papers, are being published by Springer.
Another key highlight was the launch of a new disaster report book, edited by Bhandary, Subedi, and Rajan KC. The book, dedicated to recent geo-disaster victims, analyzes the geotechnical dimensions of natural disasters in the past five years and aims to inform infrastructure planning and policy-making.
In the formal segment of the program, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Secretary Er. Keshab Kumar Sharma delivered closing remarks as Chief Guest. Prof Sushil Bahadur Bajracharya, Dean of the Institute of Engineering, attended as Special Guest. NGS General Secretary Er. Uday Raj Neupane presented the Society’s annual overview and announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Society of Consulting Architectural and Engineering Firms (SCAEF), aimed at enhancing technical collaboration.
The program included award distributions to professionals for contributions to geotechnical engineering, as well as remarks from senior officials, awardees, and institutional representatives. It concluded with a group photo session and a cultural dinner.
In addition, the event hosted poster and photography exhibitions on the theme of geohazards and geotechnics, with contributions from students and professionals. Selected entries will be featured in the upcoming NGS newsletter.
Organizers highlighted that as Nepal confronts increasing risks from climate change, urbanization, and aging infrastructure, platforms like NGS Day remain critical for fostering technical dialogue and promoting proactive disaster risk management.
