A disastrous earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck Nepal on April 25. Barpak, a mountain village between the capital Kathmandu and the tourist town of Pokhara was the epicenter. More than 8,000 people died and 18,000 were injured. The catastrophic earthquake caused extensive damage to infrastructure, such as buildings, historical and cultural monuments, temples, and roads. A major aftershock on May 12, magnitude 7.3, killed an additional 65 people and left another 1,926 injured.
The April 25 temblor was the most catastrophic earthquake in Nepal in eight decades, and it caused utter panic and chaos. Many citizens are still living on tents on streets and open grounds because their homes have been deemed unsafe. Rescue and relief was the first priority. The Nepalese armed forces and police officers did an admirable job, along with tremendous support (human as well as technical) from many friendly nations. A month has passed since the main quake, and rescue operations are being replaced by relief and rehabilitation. Next, it will be important to develop a proper plan for reconstruction.
The initial stage of recovery will require clearing up the debris. It is important to gather the debris and dispose of it properly for three main reasons. First, many of those same sites will be used for rebuilding homes or heritage sites. Second, such debris will obstruct the reconstruction process. Third, it could lead to health hazards. The rubble could contain harmful substances such as asbestos, which can cause mesothelioma cancer. Also, the piles of debris will provide breeding grounds for rodents, insects and microorganisms.