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A tsunami warning has been issued after three earthquakes, one with a magnitude of 7.4, were recorded off the Pacific coast of Russia, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Aljazeera reported.

The epicentre of a series of earthquakes – the others measuring 6.7 and 5.0 – on Sunday was around 140km (87 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, capital of Russia’s Kamchatka region, which has a population of over 160,000 people.

According to the USGS, the three quakes occurred in the same area off the coast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky within a span of 32 minutes, according to Aljazeera. 

More than 900 earthquakes have shaken a remote and sparsely populated island chain in southern Japan over two weeks, keeping residents anxious and awake all night, BBC reported.

Seismic activity has been "very active" in the seas around the Tokara islands since 21 June, authorities said after a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck on Wednesday.

There have been no reports of damage and no tsunami warning has been raised but authorities have advised residents to prepare to evacuate if needed, according to BBC.

"It's very scary to even fall asleep," one resident told the regional broadcaster MBC. "It feels like it's always shaking."

A 4.3 magnitude earthquake shook Jajarkot district on Monday.

The tremor occurred at 2: 25 am today with its epicentre at Ramidanda,  Barekot Rural Municipality in Jajarkot, said Chintak Timsina, Head of the Earthquake Monitoring Centre in Surkhet.

Rukum East recorded an earthquake of magnitude 4.2 on the Richter scale at 7:34 pm on Thursday.

The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre stated that the epicenter of the quake was at Ranmamaikot of the district.

The recent weeks have witnessed a series of earthquakes in the western part of Nepal.

Luja Shakya of Inacho, Bhaktapur, was home on the fateful day of April 25, 2015. She was 15 then, just done with her tenth-grade finals, and, like her classmates, enjoying her holiday with her family. The ground started shaking just minutes before noon. It was one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike Nepal.

“Everything happened so quickly. It was terrifying,” recalls Shakya. He is 25 now, but she can remember the day as if it were yesterday. “I lost my dear grandmother to the earthquake. My family was devastated.”

That day didn’t just change Shakya’s life—it rewrote the fate of an entire nation. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook Nepal to its core. Nearly 9,000 lives were lost, tens of thousands were injured, and entire villages, cities, and centuries-old heritage sites crumbled. In a matter of minutes, what felt like normal spring sunlight turned into shadows of panic, dust, and despair.

“Our house wasn’t safe anymore. We had to move to the ground floor, which became our sleeping space. There were aftershocks after aftershocks, deepening our fear and reminding us how fragile everything was,” says Shakya.

The extent of death, damage, and destruction was widespread. Shakya’s neighborhood was among the least damaged compared to other parts of the city. Not far away, many homes were flattened. Narrow roads delayed rescue efforts. Help arrived slowly—if at all—exposing the government’s lack of preparedness.

Even today, Shakya doesn’t believe Nepal is ready for another disaster. “The cities are overcrowded with buildings—tall and risky. I’ve become more alert since then. I keep a small emergency kit at home. I never want to feel that helpless again,” he says.

Shakya isn’t the only one who feels this way. Ram Keshari Banmala’s entire family was trapped under the rubble of her collapsed house. “Neighbors pulled them out, but my brother-in-law didn’t make it,” she says. “Our home was gone, and we took shelter on a school ground for several weeks, surviving on donated food and essentials. To rebuild, we sold our land—for far less than it was worth. Financially, we were broken.”

Ten years on, the earthquake is still etched in Nepal’s collective memory. The ground shook for less than a minute, but its impact stretched into years—into homes, dreams, and daily struggles.

Help came, but not always fairly

In the days following the disaster, aid poured in from around the world. India, China, the US, and Europe sent rescue teams, medical supplies, and funds. But the government failed to distribute them fairly and effectively. Some families received more aid than they needed, while others got nothing. Corruption, favoritism, and a lack of coordination left deep cracks in the recovery effort.

The only silver lining amid the chaos was the solidarity shown by communities. “Our common tragedy brought us together. There was a deep sense of solidarity, and that was our greatest strength. Everyone helped everyone,” says Shakya.

Communities mobilized faster than authorities. They cooked meals, cleared rubble, and built temporary shelters.

For many, survival meant leaving. Thousands moved to urban centers or went abroad in search of work. According to the Department of Foreign Employment, labor permits surged after 2015, peaking at over 519,000 that year. Migration was not just a choice—it became a coping mechanism.

Loss of cultural heritage

The 2015 earthquake didn’t just claim lives—it erased heritage. Centuries-old temples in Kathmandu Valley and elsewhere collapsed. The iconic Dharahara Tower, a symbol of Kathmandu, was reduced to rubble. These sites were more than tourist attractions—they were emblems of identity, history, and faith.

“We watched history fall before our eyes,” said a Bhaktapur local. “These were more than buildings—they were part of who we are.”

Reconstruction has been slow. While the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has rebuilt 1,320 monasteries and 626 temples, many sites remain unfinished. In addition to cultural sites, the NRA restored essential infrastructure across the country, including 7,588 schools, 544 hospitals, and 106 security facilities. But reconstruction is only part of recovery. The emotional and economic toll is harder to repair.

Lessons in preparedness

Nepal wasn’t ready when the deadly earthquake struck in 2015—and it’s not fully ready today. While building codes have improved, and earthquake drills and awareness campaigns are held regularly, cities keep expanding without proper urban planning. In rural areas, access to information is limited. Many people still don’t know what to do when the earth shakes.

Biseswor Shrestha, who is in his 80s, remembers praying as the quake hit. “I didn’t know what to do. I just stood still and prayed,” he says.

Seismologist Ramesh Guragain notes that reconstruction has made some places safer—but new areas, especially rural ones, remain highly vulnerable. “We need two levels of awareness: understanding the risk and knowing how to rebuild safely within one’s means.”

In 2015 alone, there were 58 aftershocks of magnitude 5 and above. The frequency dropped in the following years, only to spike again in 2023 with 17 earthquakes recorded—a stark reminder of Nepal’s vulnerability.

Guragain, deputy executive director at the National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET), warns that while rebuilt areas may withstand another quake, new urban sprawls are ticking time bombs.

“While we have more resources now, awareness is still lacking, especially in villages,” he says. His warning highlights the dual challenge of maintaining reconstruction quality while addressing uncontrolled development.

The earthquake exposed structural vulnerabilities—both in our buildings and in our systems of governance. Emergency response was slow, policies were unclear, and aid distribution was flawed.

Ten years later, despite all the reconstruction efforts, there’s still much left to be desired. The cyclical nature of Nepal’s disaster memory poses perhaps the greatest threat to preparedness. As seismologist Lok Bijaya Adhikari observes, “We forgot the 1934 earthquake, and we’re now forgetting the 2015 earthquake.”

Remembering what was lost

While buildings can be rebuilt, trust in institutions, emotional healing, and a sense of safety take far longer.

Gopini Suwal is still haunted by the memory of the 2015 earthquake. “I was in the field when the quake hit,” she recalls. “My kids were playing by the river. I panicked—my heart froze. My brother had a heart condition, he couldn’t run. I thought I’d lose everyone. But it was my young nephew we lost. That tore me apart.”

In Bhaktapur, Ratna Shova Phaiju and her pregnant sister were trapped under rubble for an hour with a toddler. “We could hear people calling for us, but we couldn’t respond. That hour changed everything,” she says.

Similarly, Uma Gautam of Gaushala still grieves the loss of her two nieces in the Dharahara collapse. “They were so excited to visit Dharahara. One had just passed her SLC. I didn’t even get to see them one last time,” she laments.

Their trauma runs deep. Psychiatrist Dr Rika Rijal says trauma imprints itself in the brain. “Long after the event, people relive the fear. That’s why mental health support is vital. Recovery doesn’t just mean new buildings. It means healing minds and restoring hope.”

The earthquake may be history, but for those who lived it, the story continues every day. The silence in once-busy neighborhoods, the gaps in family photos, the invisible cracks in people’s hearts—these are not easily mended.

Remember, rebuild, prepare

For many, the earthquake still lives in their memories. We can’t stop earthquakes. But we can be ready. We can care for each other. And most importantly, we can remember—not just the day the earth shook, but the strength we found in one another.

Seismologist Adhikari says earthquake vulnerability varies from place to place, yet many people are still unaware of the risks.

“One of the most effective ways to reduce this risk is through awareness, especially by including earthquake education in the school curriculum,” he says.

Unfortunately, even after the 2015 earthquake, this step has not been fully implemented. One of the major reasons behind the deaths and destruction in the 2015 earthquake was poor house design and weak construction. Yet many still don’t follow earthquake-safe building practices.

To reduce future destruction, it’s crucial to train engineers properly in building codes and ensure safe land use practices when constructing homes. Because the next quake isn’t a matter of if—but when.

Reconstructed infrastructure projects by NRA

Source: The National Reconstruction Authority

Earthquake in the last decade (above 5 magnitude)

Source: National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre

*First four months of 2025

An earthquake measuring 6. 1 on the Richter scale struck Sindhupalchowk in the wee hours of Friday, with its epicenter at Bhairab Kunda of the district.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, the quake was recorded at 2. 51 am.

The tremor was also felt in Kathmandu Valley.

No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been received.

Picture yourself standing in the middle of a hillside settlement and the ground beneath you is quivering. In an instant, houses around you start to crumble, people are trapped beneath mounds of bricks and stones, and there are clouds of dust everywhere. This senario became a reality when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal on 25 April 2015, killing almost 9,000 people and leaving millions of people homeless and hopeless. From the general public view, this was a complete catastrophe. When we go deeper into this story, however, we see parallels between how a country recovers from an earthquake and how the economy rebounds from a market crash or financial crisis. We can create a better financial system by carefully examining these similarities and applying the lessons learned from the disaster, which some of the prospects will be covered in this article.

How are quakes and economic crises similar?

The majority of us already know that an earthquake does not necessarily finish when a shake does. After the main event, smaller earthquakes, often known as aftershocks, may continue for weeks, months, or even years. For example, the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal was followed by hundreds of lesser quakes or aftershocks. The 7.3-magnitude earthquake that happened a week following the big one is the best illustration of this phenomenon. On a similar basis, the financial crisis also takes time to settle, as it also has lots of repercussions in both the short term and the long term. The global financial crisis of 2008, for instance, left the world with a number of financial aftershocks, including but not limited to a spike in the unemployment rate, hardship in clearing debt and loans by many poor nations, and a lack of confidence among the world’s biggest investors in the financial market. 

This pattern of market crashes or financial crises is similar to Omori’s law in geophysics. According to Omori's law, which is used in seismology, smaller aftershocks of larger earthquakes gradually become less frequent but never entirely cease. Smaller aftershocks following major financial crises also don't fully resolve in the field of economics. Even after more than ten years, secondary market crashes or long-term unemployment can be observed. We can anticipate and even mitigate the effects of financial crises or market crashes by comprehending the mathematics of earthquakes and their aftershocks.

For example, Nepal’s tragic earthquake in 2015 caused a great deal of chaos and instability, but with careful planning, community togetherness, and adaptation, the disaster was eventually turned into an opportunity. The same concepts may be applied to financial systems, as the market can rebound with careful preparation and adaptation.

Lessons from Gorkha earthquake

Nepal lies in the Himalayan fault line, high-risk seismic zones. So, it is most vulnerable to earthquakes. Retrospecting the 2015 earthquake of Nepal, it poses hardship to the nation in the short term and strength and lessons for the long term. In the capital of the nation, Kathmandu, which has been suffering with pollution and unplanned urbanization, the poorly built houses fell apart, but in the rural areas, the traditional houses stood strong as they were made with traditional and native materials. So, they flexed rather than cracked.

This lesson applies to financial systems. Countries with inflexible economies—those that rely too heavily on a single industry or on foreign aid—are analogous to badly built structures. When a crisis occurs, these systems disintegrate. So, Countries can improve their tenacity to financial shocks by diversifying their income sources and embodying flexibility into their economic policies. 

In Nepal, remittance accounts for almost 25 percent of its total GDP, which clearly shows the nation's heavy dependence on remittance for revenue generation. Whenever global markets fall, remittance flow may decline, weakening Nepal’s economy. In order to fight against this chaos in the near future, Nepal should increase its investment in agriculture and ecotourism and foster small-scale businesses to generate revenue. This attempt can help to reduce a nation's reliance on a single income source.

Tracing financial ‘seismic zones’

Seismology divides Nepal into seismic zones to identify places that are most vulnerable to earthquakes. Similarly, we might classify economies as financial risk zones. Low-income countries with inadequate resources fall into the “high-risk zone” for financial crises. Wealthier countries with diverse economies are considered “low-risk zones”.

For instance, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Nepal’s economy was at sixes and sevens because of its heavy dependence on remittance and tourism, but some countries that have diverse sources of generating revenue, such as Germany, fared better in such a crisis. Therefore, just like how architects design stronger and more durable buildings in high earthquake-prone zones, policymakers and economists should concentrate on strengthening financial buffers in economically weak or challenged nations. 

These buffers could include developing a wide range of economic opportunities, like developing emergency reserve funds for disasters, buttressing exports, and developing market-fluctuation-resistant industries.

Global examples of resilience

Nepal’s experience isn’t unique. In 1995, the Kobe earthquake hit Japan, causing $100bn worth of damage, but at the same time it also sparked a novel approach in constructing earthquake-resistant buildings. Similarly, Japan’s economy recovered fast thanks to solid government planning and community backing.

In economics, the 1987 worldwide stock market meltdown, sometimes known as Black Monday, demonstrated how concerted effort might calm a crisis. Governments and central banks around the world responded with policy measures, like interest rate cuts, to prevent the crash from creating long-term damage.These instances share a common thread: resilience, whether dealing with natural or economic calamities, stems from planning, flexibility, and community support.

Roadmap for future

Nepal’s recovery from the 2015 earthquake reveals important lessons about building strong economies. Engineers are already designing structures to wobble rather than collapse during earthquakes, and legislators may create financial systems that bend but do not shatter.

This entails planning for any type of repercussion, whether physical or economic calamity. To summarize, countries can transform crises into opportunities by diversifying their revenue streams, investing in early warning systems, and offering aid to communities.

The next time the ground shakes—whether from tectonic plates or financial markets—Nepal’s story will remind us that resilience means more than just survival. It's about recovering strength and preparing for what lies ahead.

 At least 53 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake struck a remote region of Tibet on Tuesday morning, according to Chinese state media, with tremors felt in neighboring Nepal and parts of northern India, CNN reported.

The United States Geological Society (USGS) said the 7.1-magnitude quake struck at 9:05 a.m. local time and was followed by multiple aftershocks.

Both the USGS and the China Earthquake Networks Center gave the epicenter location high up in the remote Tibetan plateau close to the Himalayan border with Nepal.

Another 62 people were injured in the quake, while more than 1,000 houses were damaged in Tingri county, where the epicenter is located, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Chinese social media videos geolocated by CNN showed damaged roofs, shop fronts and debris piling on the streets of Lhatse county, some 86 kilometers (53 miles) from the epicenter. Some cars and motorcycles parked along the road were also damaged, the footage showed, according to CNN.

The region close to the epicenter is sparsely populated but small villages are nestled in the remote and often hard to access Himalayan valleys. About 6,900 people are estimated to live in 27 villages within a 20-km (12-miles) radius of the epicenter, according to Xinhua.

Surveillance camera footage at a supermarket in Shigatse shared by Xinhua captured the moment the quake struck, with customers running outside as goods fell from quivering shelves.

Rescue teams including the Chinese air force have joined in search efforts, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Three villages had lost their phone signals by noon, according to the broadcaster, CNN reported.

A total of 49 aftershocks were recorded as of noon Monday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

In a statement following the quake, Chinese leader Xi Jinping called on officials to make all-out efforts to search and rescue survivors, minimize casualties, properly accommodate affected residents, and ensure their safety and warmth in the winter cold.

An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale struck Mugu on Friday.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, the quake was recorded at 8: 03 am.

Tremors were also felt in neighbouring districts, as well as the Kathmandu Valley. There are no reports of damage or casualties so far.

Earlier on Thursday, an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale was recorded in Sindhupalchowk district.

An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale struck Taplejung district at 10:46 pm on Tuesday.

The epicenter of the quake was at Tapethok of the district, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, Lainchaur.

Earlier on June 28, an earthquake had occurred with its epicenter at Helambu, Sindhupalchowk.

An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 has been felt in Dolakha district on Tuesday.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center Lainchaur, the quake occurred at 4:58 am today with its epicenter around Hatdanda in Dolakha district.

Prior to this, an earthquake of magnitude 4.4 had been recorded in Parkatne of Bajhang district on February 16.

About 68,000 children and their families who survived Nepal’s deadliest quake in eight years need further humanitarian aid to rebuild their lives, UNICEF said on Sunday, 100 days after the tremors that devastated parts of west Nepal.

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck two districts of Jajarkot and Rukum West in the remote western region of Nepal on Nov 3, killing at least 154 people, more than half of them children.

The tremors, the deadliest in Nepal since two quakes killed about 9,000 people in 2015, flattened more than 26,000 houses and partially damaged 35,000 buildings, rendering them unfit to live, according to official estimates.

UNICEF said about 200,000 people, including 68,000 children, many of whom spent a cold winter in temporary shelters, still need humanitarian assistance to recover from the disaster.

The UN agency said it is appealing for $14.7m funding to support these children.

“Thousands of children affected by the destructive earthquake are still dealing with the trauma of losing loved ones. Their development is at risk as they lost their belongings, homes and schools, among others,” Alice Akunga, UNICEF representative to Nepal, said in a statement.

“Even as temperatures rise, the needs are still high as children require nutritious food, clean water, education and shelter. One of the best ways to rebuild children’s lives and restore a sense of normalcy is to get them back to school and learning, so that they can play with their friends, learn and heal,” Akunga said.

An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale was recorded in Sindhupalchwok at 10:17 am today.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, the tremor with its epicenter in Sindhupalchwok was felt in Sindhupalchwok and adjoining areas.

More than 100 people have been killed after an earthquake hit northwestern China while many people were asleep, Aljazeera reported.

The earthquake, measured at 6.2 according to state news agency Xinhua, struck at about midnight in Gansu Province near the border with Qinghai, causing significant damage, state media reported on Tuesday.

The tremor was felt as far away as Xi’an in northern Shaanxi province, about 570 kilometres (350 miles) from the epicentre.

Gansu provincial authorities told a press conference that as of 7.50am (23:50 GMT on Monday), 105 people had been confirmed dead, and 397 injured. More than 4,700 houses had been damaged, they added. Power and water supplies were disrupted in some villages, Xinhua said.

According to CCTV, at least 11 people were also killed in the city of Haidong in Qinghai. Haidong is situated close to the epicentre about 100km (60 miles) southwest of Gansu Province’s capital, Lanzhou.

People living close to the epicentre rushed out onto the street as they felt the earthquake. Some buildings collapsed.

“I live on the 16th floor and felt the tremors so strongly,” a man named Qin was quoted as saying in the state-run Global Times. “The moment of the earthquake was feeling like being tossed up after surging waves… I woke my family up and we rushed down all 16 floors in one breath.

Qin added that it was minus 12 degrees Celsius (10.4 Fahrenheit), and that while some of his neighbours had put on down jackets or wrapped themselves in blankets others were bare-chested, according to Aljazeera.

Rescue work was under way with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for “all-out efforts” in the search and relief work. Nearly 1,500 firefighters were deployed with another 1,500 on stand-by, according to state media. More than 300 officers and soldiers were also mobilised for disaster relief.

Supplies including drinking water, blankets, stoves and instant noodles were also being sent to the affected area.

Footage on state television showed emergency vehicles driving along snow-lined highways, and rescue workers pictured shoulder-to-shoulder in the trucks.

The US Geological Survey reported the quake was a magnitude 5.9, while the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said it was a magnitude 6.1.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10km (6 miles) at 11:59 pm local time on Monday (15:59 GMT), according to the USGS, which initially reported the magnitude at 6.0. Multiple aftershocks were reported.

Gansu has a population of about 26 million people and includes part of the Gobi Desert.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in China.

In September 2022, a 6.6-magnitude quake hit Sichuan Province leaving almost 100 dead.

A 7.9-magnitude quake in Sichuan in 2008 left more than 87,000 people dead or missing, including 5,335 children who were in school at the time it happened.

At least 242,000 people were killed in 1976 after an earthquake struck Tangshan in the worst natural disaster in Chinese history.

The family of Birkha Bahadur Karki from Bheri Municipality-2, Jajarkot, is trying to piece their lives back together after their world crumbled in the earthquake on the night of Nov 3. It has been over a month since the disaster, and yet the Karki family is living under a makeshift shelter made from tarpaulin sheets. The government promised assistance hasn’t found its way to them.
 

Karki says he has done everything the local government has asked him to get the funds so that he can build a shelter for his family, but to no avail. “I have already filled up the beneficiary form and opened a bank account. I don’t know what is causing the delay,” he says. “It’s cold, and the nights are long. I don’t know how long we are going to live in this state.”

Kiran Bhandari’s family faces a similar struggle. Their house now lies in ruins. The tarpaulin tent they call home hardly shields them from the biting cold. “We filled out the forms, hoping for some relief, but it seems like the funds we are supposed to get have been caught in the bureaucratic maze,” he says. His family, like many others, hasn't seen a rupee of the promised assistance. 

“We just want a place where our children can feel safe. We will be alright if only the government provided us with a proper shelter to live in. We don’t need monetary assistance.”

The fate of Karki and Bhadari are shared by tens of thousands of quake displaced people in Jajarkot and the neighboring district of Rukum West. As winter tightens its grip, the tarpaulin shacks that were supposed to be temporary are becoming more unbearable. 

The government claims to have simplified the process of providing assistance, but the earthquake victims argue that the bureaucratic hurdles, such as the requirement to open a bank account and fill up several forms, have caused delays. 

Even though the government has announced to distribute cash handouts to those families who do not have bank accounts, the local governments have been insisting that every earthquake-affected families open bank accounts.
 

The process of opening bank accounts has been cumbersome, especially for those who do not have citizenship documents or have migrated from other districts.

Hari Bahadur Basnet of Bheri Municipality-3 highlights the difficulties faced by those who have moved from outside the district.

“Banks are demanding police issued documents stating that our houses and properties were destroyed by the earthquake, but we haven’t got any such documents. Many of us don’t even have citizenship,” says Basnet.

The procedural framework has been criticized as unjust by earthquake victims, hindering many from receiving the promised assistance. A month after the earthquake, details about damage and temporary shelters are still unavailable, attributing negligence and lack of coordination to the government.

The requirement for the quake displaced families to fill out a self-declaration form stating that they do not own homes elsewhere, and tasks such as opening a bank account have kept  many beneficiaries from receiving the government promised assistance. Many local governments have withdrawn the funds, but the distribution process has been held up in the name of completing the paperworks and bank account requirements.

The delay has left quake victims vulnerable to the harsh conditions, with health issues affecting vulnerable groups. Dr. Pratiksha Bharati, chief of District Health Service Office, Jajarkot, reveals the pressing health concerns.

"Nearly a thousand people are in need of medical attention. Health issues such as respiratory infections, pneumonia, fever, cold, and diarrhea are common among the earthquake victims," says Bharati.

She says senior citizens, children, people with chronic health conditions and pregnant women have been affected the most. 

The government has pledged to provide Rs 50,000 each to the quake displaced families in two installments. That was nearly three weeks ago, and yet many families in Jajarkot have not even received the first installment of the promised sum. 

The local government of Shivapuri Rural Municipality has received more than Rs 82m from the central government, but the local earthquake victims are yet to receive the money. Chhedagad and Barekot municipalities have also not been able to provide assistance to the beneficiaries. 

Another municipality, Nalgad, has not even requested for funds so far, as the authorities have not yet identified the total number of earthquake victims. Like Nalgad, there are several other municipalities in Jajarkot that are still assessing the damage and recording the number of earthquake victims.

Bir Bahadur Giri, chairman of Barekot Rural Municipality, says the delay in collecting beneficiary details has hindered the distribution of funds. 

“The delay has been caused due to incomplete submission of self-declaration forms,” he says.

Despite the government's plan to provide temporary housing to all earthquake-affected families by the Nepali month of Mangsir, the successful implementation of the program is yet to be seen. 

Chief District Officer Suresh Sunar says his office has been repeatedly urging the local municipal offices to expedite the fund distribution process, but to no avail.

“They say delay in form submission, lack of documentation and dispute among locals have hindered the fund distribution process,” says Sunar.

A 4.5 magnitude earthquake jolted Kathmandu Valley and adjoining districts on Thursday.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the earthquake with epicenter in Chitlang of Makwanpur district was recorded at 1: 19 am.