National Earthquake Day: Beyond the Rubble, Seeking Accountability
How reconstruction failed the most vulnerable?
Every year on National Earthquake Day, we remember the lives lost. At NIMJN, we honor them by investigating what came after.
Recovery means more than rebuilding walls—it means restoring lives. Our reporting has revealed the gap between reconstruction promises and reality: billions allocated, yet many still displaced. We’ve tracked the money and the people to ask whether “Building Back Better” has delivered for those who need it most.
🔎 The Investigation Files: Following the Recovery
The Empty Classrooms: We uncovered a startling disconnect in our reconstruction efforts. There are school buildings built after the earthquake, but no students. This story is a deep dive into the lack of demographic planning in post-disaster infrastructure.
Read the full story: There are school buildings built after the earthquake, but no students.
The Housing Gap: Our reporting revealed that for the most vulnerable, the state’s reach has fallen short. Gorkha earthquake-affected poor have no strong homes; state support is not enough.
Read the full story: Gorkha earthquake-affected poor have no strong homes; state support not enough.
Tracking the Billions: We looked into the investment in resettlement, investigating why billions of money invested in the rehabilitation of earthquake-displaced people has yet to yield stability for thousands.
Read the full story: Billions of money invested in the rehabilitation of earthquake-displaced people.
The Human Cost of Delay: Perhaps most tragically, we documented how the wait for permanent housing has become a matter of life and death, as earthquake victims are losing their lives in temporary shelters.
Read the full story: Earthquake victims are losing their lives in temporary shelters.
On this National Earthquake Day, we renew our commitment to demand accountability for the families still enduring the hardship of earthquake and other disasters.
See how we are tracking Climate and Disaster Accountability: 2025 Spotlight: The Fight for Climate Justice and Disaster Accountability.
If you missed our previous newsletters, explore the links below:
⏮️ Previous Showcase: 2025: A Year of Investigations—and Their Impact
🌐 Our Regional Hub: South Asia Journalism Collective (SAJC) — Building a Network for Power and Persistence
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With Gratitude,
The NIMJN Team