Back to Kathmandu, 33 years later: earthquake in Nepal

What happened ?

On Saturday, April 25, 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal just before noon local time. Nearly two dozen aftershocks followed.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located halfway between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

150425 earthquake in Nepal (earthquake.usgs.gov)

Officials in Nepal reported on Sunday that over 2 500 people were killed - at least 800 in Kathmandu alone - and more than 4 300 were hurt, and this estimation is expected to rise.
Update on April 29: more than 5000 people are confirmed dead and more than 6500 injured.

At that time, numerous countries and non governmental organizations around the world  are mobilized to provide aid and supplies.

How to help ?

Here are some major organizations with their online donation link:
- Nepal Red Cross Society: a direct way to help nepalese people (server may be slow or even down).
- Unicef: Children’s Rights & Emergency Relief Organization
- CARE: a leading humanitarian organization that has worked in Nepal since 1978.
- a very complete list of links concerning How to Help the Relief Effort in Nepal is maintained by the NY Times.


French links:
- Architectes de l'urgence: help to rebuild
- Secouristes Sans Frontières
- Fondation de France: Solidarité Nepal

Destructions

Dozens of temples and historical buildings in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur have collapsed or damaged. The earthquake has destroyed iconic UNESCO heritage sites, causing a major loss for the World Heritage and a long-term threatening for the nepalese touristic attractivity.

in Kathmandu

Basantapur Durbar Square is the historical plaza in front of the old royal palace and belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: see Wikipedia.
> April 2015 Nepal earthquake: Basantapur Durbar Square

According to The Nation, several temples were demolished by the earthquake:
- Kasthamandap temple
- Panchtale temple
- Basantapur Durbar
- Dasa Avtar temple
- Krishna Mandir
A few other monuments, including the Kumari Temple and the Taleju Bhawani, have partially collapsed. 

In the middle, Shiva Parvati temple (source: Narendra Shrestha)

Satellite View by Google Earth

List and map of monuments in Durbar Square

Before / After
(AP Photo/ Niranjan Shrestha et photo de droit commun. Montage: Le Figaro)

Before / After
(AP Photo/ Niranjan Shrestha et photo de droit commun. Montage: Le Figaro)

in Swayambhunath

> April 2015 Nepal earthquake: Swayambhunath
Located west of Kathmandu city, it is a religious complex atop a hill. It is a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site, featuring a famous stupa with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions: see Wikipedia.


Dharahara Tower: also known as Bhimsen Tower, it was a 62 metre-tall (203.0 ft) tower: see Wikipedia.

Before / After
Dharahara Tower (Bhimsen Tower)

in Patan (Lalitpur)

Located south of Kathmandu, Patan Durbar Square is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Valley and also belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: see Wikipedia.
According to India.com, the historic area has been shattered completely.

Before / After
Patan Durbar Square devastated

in Bhaktapur

> April 2015 Nepal earthquake: Bhaktapur
Located 13 km east of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the third of the three Durbar Squares in the Valley and belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: see Wikipedia.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square (Omar Havana/Getty Images)

in the Langtang Valley

> April 2015 Nepal earthquake: Langtang Valley

The Langtang Valley is located 80 km north of Kathmandu.

The earthquake has caused major damages in the Langtang valley: several hundred people were killed, 90% of the district's houses were damaged and the roadways were partially blocked making access difficult for the rescue operations.

Before/After Nepal earthquake: the Langtang Village (satellite view)

In April 1982, 33 years ago, I traveled to Nepal.

I feel very concerned by this tragic event because I visited much of the places that have been struck: Kathmandu, Pashupatinath, Bodnath, Pagan, Bhaktapur and the Langtang valley.

This page is an homage dedicated to the nepalese people and to its cultural heritage.
Here are some links to the pages of my diary including maps and pictures:

- before earthquake: pictures of Nepal in 1982

- Kathmandu: Basantapur Durbar Square

- Kathmandu: Pashupatinath and Bodnath

- Kathmandu Swayambhunath

- Patan (Lalitpur) Durbar Square

- Bhaktapur Durbar Square 

- Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman in Bhaktapur Durbar Square performing "Pyar Mein Dil Pe Maar De Goli", from the film "Mahaan"

- Langtang valley: Trisuli Bazar, Betrawati, Manigaon, Ramche, Dhunche, Thulo Syabru, Ghora Tabela, Langtang, Kyanjin Gompa