Nepal helps Bhutan strengthen quake preparedness with support from PM Modi-backed coalition
Bhutan conducted a full-scale earthquake simulation in Thimphu with technical support from Nepal and the India-backed Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The exercise aimed to identify gaps in emergency response and resource mobilization for major seismic events.
Why it matters
This demonstrates the importance of regional cooperation in the Himalayas to mitigate the impact of natural disasters in seismically vulnerable areas.
A full-scale earthquake simulation in Bhutan's capital has exposed gaps in emergency equipment and resource mobilisation while testing how authorities, hospitals and emergency responders would coordinate after a major quake, with Nepal's earthquake experts providing technical support for the exercise.
The simulation recreated a scenario akin to a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Thimphu, which involved mass casualties, damaged buildings, disrupted roads and power supply, and tested how authorities would make decisions, communicate, coordinate rescue operations and mobilise resources in the aftermath of such a disaster.
The National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET), with support from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and Bhutanese authorities, designed and facilitated the full-scale simulation exercise on June 23 as part of efforts to strengthen the Thimphu Earthquake Contingency Plan. Findings of the exercise were published by a Nepali weekly on Saturday (August 15, 2026).
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in