The devastating earthquake in Nepal and its impact on India, especially in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, is most worrisome. More than 3,500 people have lost their lives in Nepal alone, and around 60 in India. No words of sympathy can console the families of the victims. It is a fact that earthquakes have become more frequent in India, as people are destroying nature and constructing structures that are not quake-resistant. The danger to the Himalayan region is acute.
A major safeguard against this fury of nature is to follow the rules and regulations for construction of houses and office buildings. In comparison to legally-constructed buildings, unauthorised structures are more vulnerable. Fire safety norms must be in place. In buildings that are constructed on the basis of sanctioned plans, the damage can be minimised. Rules must be tightened in earthquake-prone zones, and the National Capital Region is one of them.