Brief note on the 25 April 2015 earthquake in Nepal and its effect on

 Brief note on the 25 April 2015 earthquake in Nepal and its effect on Indigenous
Population
Information sourced out from various sources, Ministry of Home Affairs, daily situation reports of
un.org.np, newspaper, websites, etc.
Out of 75 districts, 30 districts in Nepal have been affected with the earthquake on 25 April 2015.
The hard hit districts are Gorkha (epicenter of the earthquake), Lamjung (initially reported as the
epicenter), Dhadhing, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Nuwakot, Dolakha, Kathmandu, Lalitpur,
Bhaktapur and Ramechhap. All of these districts are populated by various indigenous groups.
There has been no verified information received so far on the actual number of casualties and
the situation in Lamjung despite of it being the epicenter of the earthquake. Lamjung has a high
population of Gurungs.
Two villages of Gorkha, Barpark and Larpark have been totally flattened out. While the initiatives
for Barpark seem to have started, nothing has been possible for Larpark since the relief
helicopters could not land. The pictures shared in tweets show totally flattened out entire village
and the badly damaged hills. Larpark is notably a Gurung village. Baburam Bhattarai, former PM
of Nepal has pointed out for the need of small helicopters to operate in this area to that of large
ones currently deployed by the Indian Army.
Very less is known about Rasuwa and Lamjung. The helicopter survey shows all washed out
village and completely ruined Langtang National park where the number of trekkers are either
stranded or not have survived. Exact number of casualties is not verified and known. This district
is home to Tamang, Gurungs and Sherpa indigenous community.
As of 4 May afternoon, the official information on the death as twitted by the Earthquake-Nepal
(twitter handle of Ministry of Home Affairs) is reported to be 7365 dead and 14366 injured.
Disaggregated data is unavailable since 28 April 2015. Till then the available district wise data
has ben as follows:
875 deaths and 279 injured in Sindhupalchowk. Sindhupalchowk has population of Tamang,
Majhi, Sherpa, Thami, Hyolmo, and Newars. In Dolakha, 808 deaths and 2400. Around 300
yarshagumba pickers are reportedly missing in the upper Dolakha valley. Dolakha has the
population of Surel, Jirel, Thami groups. Kathmandu has 808 deaths and 2400 injuries, while in
Bhaktapur there has been equal number of 232 deaths and injuries.
There has been no information on the death/injuries or the situation report on other districts. The
media and the citizens-led relief initiatives seem to be concentrating on Kathmandu and Gorkha.
The earthquake has destroyed the four important UNESCO cultural heritage sites of Nepal which
was important historical record of the Indigenous population in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and
Bhaktapur. They used to hold significant role in the practice of cultural rituals too.
Nepal Government has announced the relief of NPR40,000/- per dead member to the family.