Gorkha Earthquake — 8,856 Killed, Nepal's Worst Disaster in 80 Years
गोरखा भूकम्प — ८,८५६ को मृत्यु, ८० वर्षमा नेपालको सबैभन्दा ठूलो विपद
What happened
On 25 April 2015, a massive earthquake hit Nepal. Nearly 9,000 people died and hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed. Historic temples that had stood for centuries collapsed. Help came from all over the world. But reconstruction was slow and many people were still living in temporary shelters years later.
Full Verified Record
On 25 April 2015, a 7.8 Mw earthquake struck 77 km northwest of Kathmandu, epicentred near Barpak in Gorkha district. The earthquake and its aftershocks (including a 7.3 Mw quake on 12 May) killed 8,856 people, injured 21,952, and destroyed or damaged over 700,000 houses across 14 of Nepal's 75 districts. The Kathmandu Valley, Gorkha, Dhading, Sindhupalchok, and Nuwakot were worst affected. UNESCO World Heritage sites including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur, and Patan were severely damaged. International rescue teams from 34 countries arrived. Nepal received $4.4 billion in international reconstruction pledges. Reconstruction was ongoing in 2026, a full decade later.
२५ अप्रिल २०१५ मा ७.८ म्याग्निच्युडको भूकम्पले नेपाललाई हल्लायो। ८,८५६ को मृत्यु, २१,९५२ घाइते र ७,००,०००+ घर क्षतिग्रस्त भए। काठमाडौंका विश्व सम्पदा स्थलहरू ध्वस्त भए।
Why it mattered
The 2015 earthquake was Nepal's worst disaster since 1934. It exposed deep weaknesses in Nepal's emergency response, infrastructure, and governance. The subsequent India blockade (which began in September 2015) prevented reconstruction materials from reaching Nepal for 135 days. The earthquake's political impact was enormous — it delayed the constitution promulgation debate, accelerated foreign aid dependency, and fed public frustration with government incompetence that contributed to the 2025 uprising.
Who was affected
8,856 families lost members. 2.8 million people displaced. 700,000+ households affected across 14 districts. Nepal's tourism industry collapsed temporarily. World Heritage sites damaged. International community pledged $4.4 billion for reconstruction.
Verification
verified
Editorial status
approved
Fact sensitivity
Level 1 of 5
Last updated
29 May 2026