Tremors of the massive earthquake in Nepal were felt across Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad, triggering panic and forcing people to rush out of their homes and offices. There were, however, no reports of casualty or major property damage in the three cities.
“Following the earthquakes in last couple of days, the builders and concerned authorities have been asked to take measures. As the NCR region falls in Seismic zone-IV, we have sought details of preparations for tackling calamities like earthquake and about strengthening high rises up to an extent to which they could sustain the tremors. We have also asked authorities to check whether or not builders are following norms laid by the government,” said Abhishek Kumar, president of Noida Extension Flat Owners Welfare Association (NEFOWA).
On the other hand, Annu Khan, president of Noida Extension Flat Owners and Members Association (NEFOMA) said: “The buyers are in deep fear for the last two days. Many of them are claiming not to shift in the flats constructed in the area. As we witnessed the trembling of high rises during the tremor, we have decided to meet with authorities to check on the safety norms adopted by builders. For now, we have asked people to be alert and take measures for themselves.”
Further, sharing experiences of the deadly tremor, Preep Bhargav, a resident of Gaur City in Extension area, said: “We were sleeping in the flat when the tragedy took place. When we felt the quake, we ran out of the flat immediately. We, along with hundreds of our neighbours, used stairs to climb off the buildings. Surprisingly, no emergency alarm was set off during the earthquake — this shows how ill-prepared the builders are. As the tower is 15-storey, people, especially senior citizens, found it difficult to climb down the stairs. For now, we are being forced to stay in the open as no arrangements have been made yet by the local administration.”