--- title: "Effects of earthquake in Nepal" subject: "Engineering Geology II" chapter: 5 key: "semester_4/engineering_geology_ii:earthquake-effects-nepal" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/earthquake-effects-nepal site: BCT Engineering --- # Effects of earthquake in Nepal Engineering Geology II · Chapter 5: Geological Hazards - Asked in: 2070 Bhadra, 3 marks - Video: [भूकम्प कसरी जान्छ ? कारण के हो ? Earthquake in Nepal - Part 1 of 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Y7m2MKKkc) — Er. Purushottam Kharel - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/earthquake-effects-nepal - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/chapter-5 ## Question Explain the different effects of earthquake in the Nepalese context. ## Short answer In Nepal, earthquakes cause severe ground shaking that collapses unreinforced masonry buildings, triggering thousands of landslides, liquefaction in saturated valley fills, surface rupture, river damming floods, snow avalanches, and damage to infrastructure and heritage. The 2015 Gorkha earthquake caused about 9,000 deaths and huge economic loss. ## Answer Nepal lies on the Himalayan collision zone where the Indian plate underthrusts the Eurasian plate at about 40 to 50 mm per year, so earthquakes are frequent and severe (1934 Nepal-Bihar M 8.0 to 8.4, 1988 Udayapur M 6.6, 2015 Gorkha M 7.8). The main effects are: 1. **Ground shaking:** the main cause of damage. Collapse of unreinforced masonry, mud-mortar and stone houses; about 9,000 deaths and over 500,000 houses destroyed in 2015. 2. **Landslides and rockfalls:** shaking triggers thousands of slides on steep, fractured Himalayan slopes (Langtang, Sindhupalchok, Gorkha), blocking roads and trails. 3. **Liquefaction and ground failure:** in loose, saturated sands (Kathmandu valley fill, Terai) the soil loses strength, causing settlement, tilting of buildings and sand boils. 4. **Surface rupture and ground cracks:** along faults such as the Main Himalayan Thrust and its branches. 5. **Damming and floods:** landslides block rivers and form temporary lakes, with the danger of outburst floods. Cracks and damage to dams and canals. 6. **Snow and ice avalanches:** the 2015 shock caused avalanches at Everest Base Camp and Langtang. 7. **Damage to infrastructure and heritage:** roads, bridges, water supply, hydropower plants, temples and monuments (Dharahara, Durbar Squares). 8. **Secondary effects:** fires, epidemics, loss of livelihoods, displacement and heavy economic loss (about 7 billion US dollars in 2015). **Reduction:** seismic zoning, Nepal Building Code (NBC 105), retrofitting, safe site selection and public awareness. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Why is Nepal so earthquake-prone? A. The Indian plate underthrusts the Eurasian plate at about 40-50 mm per year in the Himalayan collision zone B. Volcanic activity along the Terai C. Rapid river erosion of the Siwaliks D. Plates are moving apart along a rift Answer: A. Continued collision and underthrusting builds strain that is released as earthquakes. (Key point: Cause of earthquakes) 2. Which effect is the main cause of damage in Nepalese earthquakes? A. Snow avalanches B. Surface rupture C. Ground shaking that collapses unreinforced masonry, mud-mortar and stone houses D. Fires Answer: C. Shaking collapsing weak buildings caused most of the deaths and over 500,000 destroyed houses in 2015. (Key point: Main damage) 3. Where and why does liquefaction occur? A. In hard rock, due to joints B. In loose saturated sands such as Kathmandu valley fill and the Terai, where soil loses strength C. In dry gravel on steep slopes D. In glacier ice Answer: B. Shaking raises pore pressure in loose saturated sand, causing settlement, tilting and sand boils. (Key point: Liquefaction) 4. How can earthquake-triggered landslides lead to floods? A. They lower the river bed B. They stop rainfall C. They block rivers forming temporary lakes that may later burst D. They dry up reservoirs Answer: C. Landslide dams create lakes with the danger of outburst floods. (Key point: Dammed lakes) ## Related in Engineering Geology II - [GLOF: occurrence, causes and effects](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Aglof-occurrence-effects) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 5, asked 9× ## Related in other subjects - [Earthquake occurrence, terminology, causes, effects](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Aearthquake-occurrence-terminology-causes-effects) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 2 - [Effects of earthquake](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Aeffects-of-earthquake) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 2 - [Spillway types suitable for Nepalese rivers](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fhydro_power%3Aspillway-types-nepal) — Hydro Power, chapter 6 - [Note for a technical talk on earthquake preventive measures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Anote-technical-talk-earthquake-preventive) — Communication English, chapter 4