4600 buildings collapsed but only 500 deaths: two foreshocks brought inhabitants out-of doors

Two foreshocks at 18:00 (M5) and 22:45 (M6.5) were followed 15 minutes later by a mainshock (M7.5) and 3 months of aftershocks. The first shock was sufficient to bring people in the Kathmandu Valley outdoors in alarm. Less than 5 hours later a larger shock emphasized the danger of staying indoors, and many were still exchanging comments of alarm with neighbours when the mainshock destroyed many dwellings and public buildings in Kathmandu.

The earthquakes occurred 18 years after a war that resulted in Nepal loosing half its pre-1815 territory. One of the agreements in the ensuing peace treaty was that in exchange for Nepal recognizing its new border, entry into Nepal by British citizens would be forbidden, except for the British Resident and official visitors to his compound in Kathmandu.

Brian Hodgson (1801-1894) was the British resident at the time, and he most certainly would have written about the earthquake since he was an observant man, dedicated to the study of science, Himalayan languages and the Bhuddist religion. However, in his letter to his sisters shortly after the earthquake he makes no comment on it, and no note on the earthquake has been found from him in administrative records. Instead, much that we know of the epicentral damage comes from Alexander Campbell the physician to the British Residency in Kathmandu.

He writes "On the evening of the 26th, about 6 o'clock, the valley and neighbouring hills were visited by a severe shock of an earthquake: it lasted about 40 seconds, and during its continuance, there was a distinct audible noise as of an ordnance passing rapidly over a draw-bridge. It seemed to come from the east, and I felt that it was traveling with the speed of lightning towards the west, and just under my feet: the houses shook most violently, and trees, shrubs and the smallest plants were set in motion, not shaking but waving to and fro from their very roots. No damage was done to life or property. At 22:45 we had a similar shock in brevity and duration, and at 23:00 a most tremendous one. It commenced gradually, and increased until the houses, trees, and every thing on the face of the ground seemed shaken from their foundations. The earth heaved most fearfully, and when the shock was at its worst we heard the clashing of falling tiles and bricks in every direction; and to add to the impressiveness of the scene, a general shout rose from the people in all directions. The murmur of human prayers was carried audibly from the city to our grounds (a mile), and nothing could be more imposing and vast than the scene. In a dead calm the noise of a hundred cannon burst forth: full grown trees bended in all directions, and houses reeled about like drunken men. In our grounds no lives were lost, but in Katmandu 19 persons were buried under the ruins of their own houses, and in the towns of Bhatgoan and Patan, many more. The great shock continued for nearly a minute, and during the following hour there were six distinct and strong shocks, the ground in the intervals between scarcely, if at all steady, and from this time till yesterday morning there were upwards of 20 distinct and sharp shocks. The loss of property has been very great, 125 houses fell in Katmandu during the night of the 26th, and nearly as many more have been levelled with the ground. Up to this time, in consequence of the torrents of rain that have come down, finishing the work of destruction commenced by the earthquakes, the city and town have been evacuated, men, children, and women of the purdah, rich and poor have been and still are on the plains about the towns. Innumerable temples have been destroyed, and the very gods of them have been crushed to atoms. A fine and large brick temple (100 feet high), built in imitation of the great one at Jagarnath, came down by the run early yesterday morning, and two fine pillars by Bhim Sen were demolished by the shock. All yesterday and last night we had occasional small shakes, but none equal to the great one we had on the 26th.”