Multimedia review of 2015
January 2015
Preparing to be prepared
JANUARY 15: It has been accepted wisdom that there is a Great Earthquake in Kathmandu every 80 years and the next Big One is due any day. The death and destruction from the next Big One will be unthinkable. Earthquake experts estimate that depending on the time of day, at least 100,000 people will be killed outright. Hundreds of thousands more will be seriously wounded, but will have nowhere to go because most of the hospitals will have also collapsed. Besides, the city’s narrow roads will be blocked by rubble. International relief will be delayed by damaged airports and highways.
National Earthquake Safety Day on 15 January is a reminder to be ready for the coming Big One.
Opposition vandalises CA
JANUARY 20: CA members of the opposition parties, including UCPN(Maoist) and the Madhes front, vandalize the CA following CA chairman Subash Nembang’s decision to allow a proposal for the formation of a questionnaire committee to sort out the contentious issues of the new constitution.
Missed constitution deadline
JANUARY 22: The deadline for the new constitution is missed. The blame game is in full swing as the ruling NC-UML coalition accuses the Maoist- Madhesi alliance and vice-versa for the impasse.
February 2015
UK envoy quits foreign service
FEBRUARY 11: UK ambassador Andrew Sparkes cuts short his Nepal stint amidst controversy over his article in which he advised Nepali legislators to secure rights to religious conversion.
Acid victims
FEBRUARY 22: Sangita Magar (16) and Sima Basnet (15) suffer severe burns in an acid attack in Jhonchhe, Kathmandu. The attacker is later identified as Jiban BK (20).
March 2015
MARCH 4: A Turkish Airlines plane skids off the runway, forcing Nepal's only international airport to close down for 85 hours.
April 2015
APRIL 2: Dr Govinda KC ends his hunger strike after 11 days following a fresh deal with the government.
Surya Bahadur Thapa (1928-2015)
APRIL 15: Veteran politician Surya Bahadur Thapa who became Nepal's Prime Minister a record five times serving three kings passes away.
April 25 earthquake
APRIL 25: A 7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes central Nepal at 11.56 AM, killing nearly 8,617 people and destroying 473,000 houses. The epicentre of the earthquake is 34 km East-Southeast of Lamjung.
Avalanche on Everest
APRIL 25: At least 22 bodies are pulled out from an avalanche triggered by the earthquake.
Video credit: Jost Kobusch
Baby rescued alive
APRIL 26: 4-month-old Sonish Awale of Bhaktpur is rescued alive from the rubble after 22 hours.
May 2015
Powerful aftershock
MAY 12: A 7.3 magnitude aftershock, with epicentre between Dolakha and Sindhupalchok, rattles central Nepal again, causing further deaths and devastation.
US Marine Huey crashes
MAY 15: US Marine Huey crashes on the north slope of Kalinchok, 35m East of Kathmandu at an elevation of 11,100 ft. No survivors reported.
Landslide blocks Kaligandaki River
MAY 24: A massive landslide blocks Kaligandaki River in Myagdi district, creating a huge natural dam and forcing local people to run to higher ground.
Schools reopen
MAY 31: Schools reopen 37 days after the earthquake.
June 2015
Chopper crash
JUNE 2: A chopper crash kills four in Sindhupalchok district, including three medical staff from Medecines Sans Frontiers (MSF). They were returning to Kathmandu after providing relief materials and medical service to earthquake survivors in Tembathan of Gumba VDC.
Constitution deal
JUNE 8: The four major political parties ink a historic 16-point deal, paving the way for the Constituent Assembly (CA) to write Nepal’s new constitution nine years after the end of the conflict.
Taplejung landslide
JUNE 11: Landslides kill more than 50 people in Taplejung district. It was caused by a cloudburst on an earthquake-weakened mountainside.
Donor Summit
JUNE 25: Donors pledge $4.1 billion for reconstruction of Nepal at a conference in Kathmandu.
Draft one
JUNE 30: The first draft of the new constitution is tabled in the Constituent Assembly.
July 2015
Kaski landslides
JULY 30: Two separate landslides kill 30 people in Kaski district.
August 2015
Six federal provinces
AUGUST 8: Top three parties and MJF (D) sign a fresh deal to carve out six federal provinces.
Kailali carnage
AUGUST 24: Tharu protesters kill eight security personnel including DSP Laxman Neupane and two inspectors in Tikapur. One child is also shot dead.
September 2015
CA passes Nepal’s Constitution
SEPTEMBER 20: For the first time in Nepal's history, a constitution is passed by an assembly of people's representatives. Madhesi parties are left out and India merely takes 'note' of it.
India's message
SEPTEMBER 21: India issues another statement expressing concern over violence in the Tarai. In what was seen as a hint of a blockade that followed, India said: "Our freight companies and transporters have voice complaints."
Sit-ins begin
SEPTEMBER 23: Madhesi Morcha decides to stage sit-ins at Nepal-India check-points, resulting in shortages of fuel and gas.
Baburam Bhattarai quits
SEPTEMBER 26: Baburam Bhattarai quits the UCPN (M), vowing to form a new political force.
October 2015
Madhes protests
OCTOBER 2: Protests continue in several parts of Tarai.
Prime Minister KP Oli
OCTOBER 11: UML Chair KP Oli becomes new Prime Minister.
First female speaker
OCTOBER 16: Onsari Gharti Magar is Nepal's first female Speaker.
New President
OCTOBER 28: Bidya Bhandari is the first woman to become Nepal's President.
November 2015
Bus accident
NOVEMBER 3: 30 people killed as an overcrowded bus skids off the road in Rasuwa.
Nepal-China deal
NOVEMBER 5: Nepal and China agree to work towards opening seven new border entry-exit points between the two countries.
December 2015
Amendments
DECEMBER 20: A cabinet meeting decides to amend the constitution to address Madhesi demands for proportional representation and constituency delimitation in proportion to population, form an all-party committee to resolve dispute over federal boundaries and add clarity to citizenship provisions.
Protests continue
DECEMBER 22: Madhesi parties reject the government's three-step political road-map, protests continue.
Reconstruction Authority
DECEMBER 27: After the Parliament finally passes a bill to set up National Reconstruction Authority, a cabinet meeting appoints the CEO Sushil Gyewali.