Bhutan lies in the Himalayas which is formed due to the continuous collision of the Indian plate beneath the Eurasian Plate. Devastating earthquakes are common in the Himalayan region. Seismic activity in the eastern fringe of the Himalaya can cause moderate to strong shaking in Bhutan. Due to dominance of non-engineered constructions, seismic vulnerability of Bhutanese buildings is expected to be very high– scientific studies of seismic vulnerability of Bhutanese buildings are limited, if not absent. Poor seismic performance of Bhutanese buildings was apparent during the 2009 and 2011 earthquakes. Some structures suffered extensive damage because they were too old to sustain the lateral load and had poor detailing. It is crucial to note future seismic events might be devastating due to the underlying vulnerability characteristics, and studies on the seismic capacity of these structures been paramount. The presence of profound varieties of vernacular structures been quite a threat to lives as they sustain relatively higher damages. The CDRRCDC, hosted in CST foresight the area as critical to save communities, lives and infrastructures. Further, retrofitting measures and FEM studies are along the chain of studies on such a profound area.
Author: Mr. Nimesh Chhetri, Faculty CEAD