KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to observe 28th Earthquake Safety Day on coming Magh 2 of Nepali month (January 16 this year) with a variety of programmes.

The slogan for this year Earthquake Safety Day is- ‘Preparedness of all three-tier government and all citizens; Earthquake-resilient Nepal; our shared responsibility.’

Organizing a press conference here today, the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction announced that the Day would be marked across the country, with the main ceremony at Khula Manch in Kathmandu.

Rabindra Bohora, Director General of the Department, shared that a rally would be organized on that day in Kathmandu. After the rally, a formal programme will be held with the Prime Minister as the chief guest.

Furthermore, a two-day earthquake safety exhibition will be organized at the same venue.

Bohora additionally informed that seminars, interaction, awareness campaign using audio-video contents, rallies, competitions, blood donation drive, and street dramas will be organized at provincial, district and local levels on that day. He noted that the major loss of lives and properties during the earthquake occur due to the collapse of weak infrastructures. Hence, he argued, making earthquake-resilient buildings is the most effective form of preparedness.

For that, he highlighted effective implementation of the National Building Code.

He also pressed for mandatory implementation of earthquake-resistant standards in new constructions and retrofitting of the old ones.

The government has been observing the Earthquake Safety Day to commemorate the 1934 mega earthquake (1990 BS) on the Magh 2 of Nepali month.

The Earthquake Safety Day is being observed since 2055 BS across the nation with the goal of making safe construction, earthquake preparedness, response and recovery more effective while advancing earthquake risk reduction as a national priority.